BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


HOPEWELL  SECTION. 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


OF  THE 


EARLY  SETTLERS 


OF  THE 


Hopewell  Section 


AND 


Reminiscencks  oe  the   Pioneers  and  their   Descendants  bv 

Families,  with  some  Historicai.  Facts  and  Incidents 

OF  THE  Times  in  Which  They  Lived. 


The  only  way  to  Preserve  History  ts  to  Reduce  it  to  Writing 

While  the  Chiee  Actors  are  I^iving,  and  have  Taught 

TO  their  Posterity  without  Embelishments. 


Written  at  the  request  of  Revolutionary  Descendants  by 
J.  H.  ALKXANDKR,  M.   D. 


CIIAHI.OTTK,  N.  C. 

Oliirrvrr  I'rIiiiliiK  and  I'ulillihliiK  Ilnutr, 

l«»7, 


TO  MY  WIFE 

Annie  Lowrie  Alexander,  who  had  an  aptitude  for 
genological  pursuits,  and  was  fond  of  tracing  family 
relations.  And  had  she  been  permitted  to  have  joined  in 
the  preparation  of  this  work,  it  would  have  been  more  at- 
tractive to  the  general  reader,  and  more  accurate  in  detail. 
Trusting  this  offering  may  stimulate  the  descendants  of 
licr  friends  to  further  prosecute  the  work  of  gathering  up 
nil  the  facts  pertaining  to  the  first  patriots  of  America, 
this  little  book  is  dedicated  to  her  memory. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  SETTLERS  IN  HOPEWELL  CONGREGATION. 

1  here  is  no  more  historic  place  in  America  than  Meck- 
lenburg county,  and  in  the  county  no  spot  so  conspicuous 
for  n'jen  of  daring  and   chivalric   deeds   in    Revolutionary 
times    as    the    Hopewell  settlement.     This  section  was 
settled  by  that  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  element  who  appear  to 
have  been  born  in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  strongly  imbued 
with  a  love  of  liberty,  religious  freedom,  and  fair  play.   The 
majority  of  the  pioneers  came  from  Maryland  and  Penn- 
s}l\ania.    The  section  of  which  we  write  is  bounded  on  the 
west  by  the  Catawba  river,  taking  its  name  from  the  tribe 
of  Indians  who  roamed  over  this  portion  of  North  Caro- 
lina long  after  the  white  people  established  homes  on  its 
borders;  bounded  on  the  east  by  a  high  ridge  without  a 
single  water  course  running  across  it  for  twenty  miles. 
The  rain  falling  on  the  west  side  flows  into  the  Catawba, 
and  all  on  the  east  side  to  Rocky  River.    In  the  early  days 
of  the  settlement  the  southern  and  northern  boundaries 
extended  respectively  for  a  few  miles  north  of  Charlotte 
to  Beattie's  Ford,  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Hopewell 
church.     The  lands  were  well  watered,  somewhat  rolling, 
much  of  it  prairie  in  fine  grass  and  wild  pea-vines,  very  fer- 
tile, and  all  capable  of  easy  cultivation,  except  a  small  area 
covered  with  "nigger-head  rock."     It  was  once  believed 
tiiat  only  a  wild  and  rugged  climate  and  scant  soil  could 
produce  the  highest  type  of  manhood,  l)ut  the  heroes  of 
the  Revolution,  and  their  descendants  in  the  last  great 
struggle  between  the  States,  prove  that  it  is  more  in  the 
race  than  in  the  locality.     It  would  have  been  a  surprise  to 
us  if  tliose  pioneers  who  braved  the  wilds  of  the  unknown 
wilderness    and    the  blood-thirsty  savages,  had  not  made 
thcnsclvcs  a  name  for  posterity  to  be  proud  of  when  they 

550513 


4  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

settled  in  this  locality,  on  the  extreme   limits   of   western 
civilization — Mecklenburg  having  no  western  limit. 

Hopewell  church  was  organized  in  1765,  cotemporary 
with  Rocky  River  and  Sugar  Creek.  It  was  here  that  the 
spirit  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  first  became  manifest, 
taking  deep  root  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  culmi- 
nated in  the  world-renowned  Declaration  of  Independence 
in  the  town  of  Charlotte  on  the  20th  of  May,  1775. 

Most  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration,  absolving  their 
country  from  the  crown  of  England,  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  nine  were  ruling  elders,  and  one  a 
minister  of  the  gospel.  They  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age,  and 
transmitted  to  their  posterity  a  full  account  of  the  trans- 
actions of  the  ever-memorable  20th  of  May  as  the  most 
important  act  in  the  wonderful  drama  that  gave  birth  to 
American  liberty.  So  that  if  no  other  proof  but  tradition 
of  such  a  character,  it  should  be  sufficiet  to  establish  its 
validity  in  the  minds  of  all  unprejudiced  persons. 

Hopewell  church  being  a  central  point  of  this  interest- 
ing locality,  and  having  suffered  the  irreparable  loss  by 
fire  of  all  the  church  records  for  seventy-five  years  of  her 
existence,  it  is  now  impossible  to  replace  them,  and  as 
anvthing-  pertaining  to  the  church's  early  history  will  be 
of  interest,  I  take  pleasure  in  appending  a  manuscript  writ- 
ten by  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  an  elder  of  Hopewell. 
]\lr.  Alexander  having  held  many  positions  of  honor  and 
trust,  adds  interest  to  all  subjects  with  which  his  name  is 
connected.  Without  apology  or  further  explanation  his 
paper  is  subjoined. 

''The  people  of  Hopewell  having  in  the  autumn  of  the 
year  1791  obtained  part  of  the.  ministerial  labors  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  C.  Caldwell,  the  majority  of  them  felt  them- 
selves happy  in  him  as  their  teacher,  and  viewed  them- 
selves as  being  highly  favored  of  their  Creator  in  sending 
them  such  an  earnest  and  zealous  well-wisher  of  souls,  to 
break  the  bread  of  life  unto  them.  But  there  was  a  certain 
few,  whom,  though  they  appeared  to  be  very  willing  to  have 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  5 

the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  explained  to  them,  yet  to  have 
the  necessity  of  inward,  practical  and  experimental  religion 
pressed  upon  them,  and  to  be  warned  of  the  fatal  conse- 
quences of  a  neglect  thereof,  in  so  warm  and  pathetic  a 
manner  as  was  customary  for  the  Rev.  S.  C.  Cald- 
well to  do;  this  to  them  was  very  disagreeable;  however,  it 
was  borne  with  some  degree  of  quiet  until  May,  1802,  when 
the  late  and  glorious  revival  made  its  first  public  appear- 
ance in  Hopewell.  The  loud  cries  of  penitents,  who  were 
convinced  of  their  guilt  and  danger,  pleading  for  mercy, 
roused  ail  their  slumbering  prejudices  into  wakeful  activ- 
ity. Little  else  but  murmurs  and  reproaches  could  now  be 
heard  from  them.  Those  loud  cries  continuing  occasion- 
ally to  be  heard,  and  frequently  taking  place  under  warm 
addresses,  their  worthy  pastor  bore  equal,  if  not  superior 
blame,  consequently  their  murmur  against  both  the  preach- 
er and  the  penitents  became  incessant,  accompanied  with 
insidious  and  bitter  opposition.  Yet  this  ill  treatment, 
the  reverend  and  worthy  Samuel  C.  Caldwell  bore  with 
much  patience  for  several  years;  but  at  length,  being  griev- 
ed at  heart  with  their  continued  and  increasing  murmurs, 
at  tlie  close  of  the  year  1806.  he  withdrew  from  those  sons 
of  strife,  left  them  to  enjoy  their  silent  Sabbaths,  and  lie- 
took  himself  to  a  more  peaceful  habitation.  This  gave  rise 
to  the  following  lines:" 

January,  1807. 

1.  "Seventeen  hundred  ninety-one 

Fair  Hopewell  Church  quite  vacant  lay, 
A  stated  Teacher  she  had  none 

To  guide  her  in  the  Heavenly  way. 

2.  To  God  then  did  she  raise  her  crv 

Our  gracious  God  her  prayer  heard. 
Nor  did  her  humble  suit  deny. 

Put  sent  the  Teacher  she  desired. 


BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

3.  Yea  also  blessed  his  labors  so, 

While  day  and  night  he  did  us  warn 
To  fly  from  everlasting  woe, 

That  numbers  to  the  Lord  did  turn. 

4.  For  several  years  we  thus  were  blest 

While  he  and  we  shared  mutual  joy; 
We  hoped  our  bliss  thro'  Hfe  would  last 
Without  cessation  or  alloy. 

5.  But  soon  (base  wretches)  we  abused 

The  goodness  of  our  gracious  God, 
The  bliss  despised,  His  grace  refused. 
Spurned  at  the  favors  He  bestowed. 

6.  And  now  behold  deserved  woe. 

Abused  bliss  must  be  withdrawn, 
Satan,  our  most  malicious  foe 

The  seeds  of  discord  soon  has  sown. 

7.  Base  pride  and  envy  rose  in  haste 

To  urge  the  fatal  crisis  on. 
Our  beauteous  house  agam  lies  waste, 
While  a  kind  Teacher  we  have  none. 

8.  In  nature's  wilds  we  now  may  stray 

Like  silly  sheep  when  left  alone, 
And  Satan  make  an  easy  prey. 
Our  faithful  monitor  is  gone. 

9.  In  vain  we  ask  in  silent  walls 

For  council  how  to  'scape  the  snare; 
In  vain  for  aid  the  feeble  calls. 

There's  no  kind  friend  or  Shepherd  there. 

TO.  No  more  we  hear  his  pleasant  voice 

Proclaim  those  messages  of  grace. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Which  makes  the  mourning-  soul  rejoice, 
And  tills  the  comfortless  with  peace. 

11.  Adieu,  adieu,  thou  pleasant  place, 

Where  we  w-ere  wont  to  seek  our  God, 
To  hear  His  word,  to  pray  and  praise. 
And  feed  on  bounties  bought  with  blood. 

12.  A  long  adieu,  thou  silent  dome, 

In  thee  no  more  we  find  our  food. 
For  Bread  of  Life  we  now  may  roam 
And  on  thy  gates  write  'Ichabod.' 

13.  Lord  it  is  just  we  humbly  own. 

That  we  should  feel  Thy  chastening  rod, 
Under  our  heavy  guilt  we  groan, 
Nor  can  we  bear  the  heavy  load. 

14.  O,  thou  our  condescending  God 

To  wiiom  or  where  can  we  apply, 
Thou  art  Thyself  that  living  bread 
Without  which  we  must  faint  and  die. 

15.  Cast  us  not  off  we  humbly  pray 

But  keep  us  near  Thy  sacred  side. 
And  that  we  never  from  Thee  stray. 
Let  Thy  good  spirit  be  our  guide. 

16.  Tho'  for  Thy  favors  most  divine, 

Basely  unthankful  we  have  been; 
Yet  Thou  art  God,  mercy  is  thine, 
For  Thy  name-sake  forgive  our  sin. 

17.  In  Thee  alone  is  all  our  hope 

For  present  good,  and  good  to  come 
To  11iee  we  daily  would  look  up 
And  hope  in  Thee  to  find  our  home. 


8  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

1 8.  Ye  humble  souls  who  mourn  your  loss, 

Tho'  you  are  deprived  of  wanted  food, 
He  that  for  sinners  bore  the  Cross 
Can  make  it  work  your  future  good. 

19.  Trust  ye  in  Him  for  all  you  need, 

He  will  your  every  want  supply, 
Who  gave  Himself  your  souls  to  feed. 
What  real  good  will  He  deny. 

20.  And  you  whose  blinded  zeal  and  pride 

Despised  the  plainest  Gospel  fare, 
And  did  those  humble  souls  deride 
Wliose  cries  for  mercy  filled  the  air. 

21.  Go  boast  the  victory  you  have  won, 

Silence  profound  you  have  obtained. 
Proclaim  the  wonders  you  have  done, 
And  glory  in  your  mighty  gain. 

2.2..  And  when  your  sons  no  Sabbath  keep 
But  spend  that  day  in  pleasures  vain. 
Then  say,  these  are  the  fruits  we  reap 
Of  the  deep  silence  we  did  gain. 

23.  But  when  upon  a  dying  bed 

With  dread  eternity  in  sight, 
Dare  you  trust  Him  to  be  your  aid 
Whose  service  now  is  your  delight? 

24.  Yea  at  the  final  trumpet  sound, 

Dare  you  defend  His  gloomy  cause? 
Should  you  victorious  then  be  found 

All  Hell  would  sound  your  loud  applause. 

25.  But  sure  of  this  you  must  despair. 

Then  flee  that  ancient  rebel's  cause, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

And  to  His  standard  qnick  repair, 
Who  rules  all  nature  by  His  laws. 

26.  Our  own  rebellion  and  submit, 

Bow  to  His  sceptre,  plead  His  grace, 
His  grace  can  all  your  sins  remit. 

And  fiill  you  souls  with  joy  and  peace." 


10  BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  11. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  this  particular  part  of  Meck- 
lenberg  county,  no  name  is  more  prominent,  or  descend- 
ants more  numerous  than  the  Alexanders.  James  Alexan- 
der was  of  Scotch- Irish  parentage,  and  lived  in  Maryland. 
Kis  first  wife  was  Margaret  McKnitt.  Their  children 
were,  Theophilus,  born  November  lo,  171 6;  Edith, 
born  January  10,  1718;  Keziah,  born  May  9,  1720;  Heze- 
kiah,  born  January  13,  1722;  Ezekiel,  born  June  17,  1724; 
Jemima,  born  January  9th,  1726;  Amos,  born  January  13, 
1728;  John  McKnitt,  born  June  6,  1733;  Margaret,  born 
June  6,  1736. 

Tlie  children  of  James  and  Abigail  Alexander  (second 
v/ife)  were,  Elizabeth,  born  November  17,  1746;  Abigail, 
born  May  4,  1748;  Margaret,  born  April  30,  1750;  Josiah 
born  August  3,  1752;  Ezekial,  born  October  21,  1754. 

Of  this  large  and  interesting  family,  all  of  whom  no 
doubt,  were  patriots,  but  one  lived  in  the  boundary  of 
which  we  write — viz:  John  McKnitt  Alexander.  His 
name  is  so  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  his  country,  that 
it  is  necessary  to  speak  more  at  length  of  him  and  his 
family  than  many  others  of  equal  virtue,  but  who  did  not 
appear  at  the  front  so  prominently  in  the  stirring  times  of 
the  la:,t  quarter  of  the  Eighteenth  Century.  John  Mc- 
Knitt Alexander  was  born  and  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  dat- 
ing his  birth  in  1733,  he  was  21  years  old  when  he  came  to 
Mecklenburg  in  1754.  He  had  learned  the  tailor's  trade 
while  a  minor,  and  followed  this  avocation  for  a  number  of 
years,  taking  cattle  and  hides  in  exchange  for  work,  which 
he  would  carry  to  Philadelphia  to  find  a  market.  There 
he  would  purchase  broadcloth  and  other  fine  material  to 
make  into  suits  for  the  more  wealthy  class  of  his  customers. 
He  was  also  a  surveyor,  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  H 

he  surveyed  the  greater  part  of  ah  the  lands  taken  up  by 
the  early  settlers.     The  writer  remembers  an  old  road,  or 
rather  tne  signs  of  it  left  by  washing  rains,  surveyed  from 
Alexandriana  (the  postofhce  and  name  of  his  residence)  to 
Mill  Grove  in  Cabarrus  county.    The  roads  were  made  as 
straight  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  would  admit.    During 
one  of  his  trips  to  Pennsylvania,  in  1759,  he  married  Jane 
Bain.     He   had  built   a  home   on   what   was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Statesville  road,  nine  miles  northwest  of 
Charlotte.    His  house  was  the  general  rendezvous  for  the 
intelligent  and  patriotic  for  many  miles  in  all  directions.  It 
was  here  the  patriots  were  accustomed  to  meet  and  consid- 
er the  condition  of  the  country  for  months  before  the  polit- 
ical climax  was  reached.     After  much  deliberate  thought 
these  patriotic  pioneers  agreed  to  meet  in  Charlotte  as  the 
most  central  point  and  give  expression  to  their  delibera- 
tions, where,  on  the  20th  of  May,   1775,  the  just  cele- 
brated Declaration    of    Independence    was    promulgated 
amid  the  shouts  and  huzzas  of  a  populace  fully  prepared - 
to  indorse  it  with  their  lives,    their    fortunes    and  their 
sacred  honor.    Mr.  Alexander  being  the  Secretary  of  the 
Convention,  was  the  custodian  of  all  the  documents  and 
papers,  including  the  ever  memorable  original  draft  of  the 
Mecklenburg  declaration,  which  was  destroyed  by  the, 
burning  of  his  house  in  the  year  1800.    He  was  one  of  the 
most  pronounced  and  active  patriots  in  the  State;  not 
only  a  member  of  the  Colonial  Congress,  having  in  charge 
the  wellfare  of  the  public,  but  as  a  local  officer,  looking 
after  the  interest  of  the  county — he  must  have  been  a  very 
inisy  man.     Notwithstanding  so  much  of  his  time  was 
occupied  with  public  affairs,  he  did  not  fail  to  exercise  a 
healthful    influence   in   organizing   Hopewell   church,    of 
which  he  was  a  Ruling  Elder,  and  for  many  years  was  a 
pillar  in  the  church.     After  having  faithfully  served  his 
country    for    many    years,    and    attaining    a    ripe    old 
age,    he    passed    away    to    receive    his    reward   in   the 
year     181 7.     He    was    buried    in     Hopewell    graveyard 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

by  the  side  of  his  wife  who  had  preceded  him  several 
years.  They  raised  five  children.  William  Bain,  Joseph 
McKnight'  Abigail  Bain,  Jane  Bain  and  Margaret,  all  of 
whom  raised  families. 

William  Bain  Alexander  married  Violet,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Major  John  Davidson.  They  lived  at  the 
old  homestead,  where  they  were  very  prosperous, 
lie  owned  6,000  acres  of  land,  had  large  herds  of  cat- 
tle, horses,  sheep  and  hogs.  The  pasturage  of  this  time 
was  almost  limitless,  where  the  finest  of  beef  and  pork  was 
raised  almost  without  cost.  Wool  was  a  prime  article  of 
produce,  occupying  a  similar  place  then  to  what  cotton  at- 
tained after  Whitney's  invention  of  the  cotton  gin.  He 
was  a  successful  farmer  an-d  business  man.  He  was  Re- 
corder of  Deeds  for  many  years,  and  did  as  other  officers 
of  the  time,  carry  the  papers  to  his  home  and  do  the 
work  there — meeting  the  people  at  the  court  house  on 
Saturdays.  His  handwriting  is  well  known  to-day  by  the 
county  officers,  who  handle  old  papers  every  day.  He 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Hopewell  church,  and,  for 
many  years  an  Elder.  He  was  Postmaster  at  Alexan- 
driana  for  more  than  half  a  century,  and  for  the  conve- 
nience of  his  neighbors  who  lived  several  miles  away,  he 
would  carry  their  mail  to  church  and  empty  the  pouch  on 
a  table  where  it  was  distributed  to  the  proper  owners.  At 
this  time  comparatively  few  newspapers  were  taken,  the 
mail  consisting  chiefly  of  letters.  The  price  of  letter  pos- 
tage was  25  cents,  consequently  not  many  letters  were 
sent  through  the  mails.     Envelopes  were  unknown. 

Mr.  Alexander  and  wife  were  remarkably  fortunate  in 
their  family.  They  had  fourteen  children — seven  boys  and 
seven  girls — none  of  whom  died  until  the  youngest  was 
twenty-nine  years  old.  But  at  this  writing — 1896 — all 
have  passed  away  except  one,  and  she  is  in  her  ninety-third 
year.  As  they  were  amongst  the  leading  citizens  of  the 
Hopewell  section  and  also  of  the  county,  a  short  notice  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  13 

each  is  given,  to  bring  this  historical  sketch  within  the 
niemoiy  of  people  now  living. 

Joseph  McKnitt  Alexander,  the  oldest  of  the  children, 
was  born  in  1792.  He  built  a  home  one  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  Hopewell  Church,  where  he  operated  a  farm  with 
success.  On  this  farm  he  made  the  brick  for  Hopewell 
church — probably  the  second  building  that  was  erected 
there.  The  first  was  built  of  logs,  and  was  shaded  on  all 
sides  as  to  accommodate  the  large  crowds  who  wTre  in 
the  habit  of  assembling  there  during  revivals  and  camp- 
meetmgs.  He  married  Nancy  Cathey,  a  daughter  of  Col- 
oiiej  Cathey,  near  Beattie's  Ford.  They  had  but  three  chil- 
dren, viz:  DeWitt  Clinton,  John  Davidson  and  Violet. 
The  family  moved  to  Maringo  county,Alabama,in  the  year 
1S35.  Here  the  children  married,  all  engaged  in  farming 
and  became  very  wealthy.  John  Davidson  is  the  only  one 
now  living.  Their  offsprings  are  scattered  over  the  South. 

Jane  Bain  Alexander — the  eldest  daughter — married. 
C'aptain  John  Sharp,  and  moved  to  Tennessee.  They  w^ere 
prosperous,  had  several  children,  who  were  well  educated. 
The  family  were  short  lived;  and  owing  to  difificulty  of 
traveling  and  communication  at  this  period  w^e  know  but 
little  of  the  family  history.  A  son,  William  Sharp,  was  a 
highly  educated  physician  and  accomplished  gentleman. 
He  died  at  an  early  period.  Two  sisters,  Margaret  and 
Jane,  both  married  men  by  the  name  of  Hall,  raised  families 
of  wliom  w^e  know  nothing.  Robert  Davidson  Alexander, 

Robert  Davidson  Alexander,  the  third  child,  was 
born  August  cjth,  1796.  He  built  a  home  on  the 
Salisbury  road,  one  mile  east  of  Alexandria,  w^as  a  success- 
f-n  farmer,  a  Justice  of  the  eace,  and  a  Member 
of  the  County  Court  for  many  years;  was  a  devoted  Chris- 
tian, an  Elder  in  Hopewell  church,  and  w^as  frequently  a 
representative  in  the  Church  courts.  He  married  Abigail 
Bain,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Caldwell,  in  1829.  They 
raised  five  children,  three  died  in  infancy,  one,  Lottie,  an 
accmphshcd  young  woman,  passed  away  at  the  age  of  22, 


14  BIOGRAl'HICAL  SKETCHES. 

in  1878.  Four  are  now  living,  viz:  Rev.  S.  C.  Alexander, 
D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Monticello, 
Ark.;  Agnes  married  Dr.  W.  B.  Fewell,  and  lives  near  Rock 
Hill,  S.  C,  where  they  enjoy  the  shady  side  of  life  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  family;  Dr.  J.  Brevard  Alexander  built 
an  elegant  home  six  miles  north  of  Hopewell,  where  he 
operated  a  farm  and  practiced  medicine  for  thirty-five 
years,  except  four  years  from  '61  to  '65  spent  in  Confed- 
erate States  Army.  In  1858  he  married  Miss  Annie  Low- 
rie,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Lowrie,  who  lived  on  the  Beat- 
ti^'s  Ford  road,  sixteen  miles  from  Charlotte.  They  raised 
six  children —  Robert  is  on  the  farm;  Samuel  died  at  the 
age  of  19,  while  preparing  for  the  ministery.  The  family 
moved  to  Charlotte  in  1890,  that  is,  James,  Dixie  and 
Annie  Lowrie;  Lucy  married  J.  H.  Halliburton  and  lives 
in  Durham.  Mrs.  Alexander  died  February  21,  1893,  and 
was  buried  at  Gilead  by  the  side  of  her  maternal  kindred — 
the  Johnston  family.  She  was  woman  of  positive  charac- 
ter, and  fine  mental  attainments.  She  was  much  esteemed 
by  all  her  neighbors.  His  daughter,  Dr.  Annie  Lowrie 
Alexander,  who  is  now  in  practice,  was  amongst  the  first 
women  physicians  of  the  South,  having  graduated  in  Phil- 
adelphia in  1884.  William  Davidson  Alexander  lives  at  the 
old  homestead,  a  successful  farmer  and  influential  citizen. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  G.  M.  Ramsey,  of  Ten- 
nessee, and  has  three  sons  and  one  daughter  living. 

Margaret  Davidson  Alexander  married  David  Hender- 
son, of  Sugar  Creek.  They  have  long  since  passed  away. 
Three  sons  and  one  daughter  reriiain.  Dr.  J.  McKnitt 
Henderson  died  twenty  years  ago.  Andrew  R.  Henderson 
lives  in  Gaston  county,  two  miles  west  of  Hopewell 
church,  at  which  place  he  holds  his  membership.  Dr. 
William  Bain  Henderson  moved  to  Alabama  many  years 
ago.  where  he  now  resides.  Jane  married  E.  C.  Davidson. 
She  is  now  a  widow,  lives  fourteen  miles  northwest  of 
Charlotte,  on  the  Beattie's  Ford  road;  has  five  children 
living,  with  whom  she  is  spending  the  evening  of  herday. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  lo 

J.  Harvey  Henderson,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  now 
resides  in  Charlotte,  pleasantly  situated  with  his  daughter 

and  three  sons. 

Sarah  Davidson  Alexander  never  married.  She  spent 
her  life  visiting  among  her  large  connection,  where  she 
was  always  a  welcome  guest.  She  made  several  visits  to 
tier  kindred  in  Alabama  and  Tennessee,  always  on  horse- 
back. With  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  and  ''poke"  hung  from 
the  horn  of  her  saddle  to  carry  her  clothes,  she  did  not 
hesitate  to  take  a  trip  of  500  miles.  At  the  period  of  which 
I  write  the  only  mode  of  travel  was  on  horseback.  She 
passed  away  in  1863. 

William  Bain  Alexander  built  a  home  on  the  head- 
waters of  Long  Creek,  four  miles  east  of  Hopewell. 
He  married  Theresa  Alexander,  a  daughter  of  "Blind" 
Bill>  Alexander.  They  were  of  the  same  name,  but  were 
not  related.  They  died  many  years  ago,  leaving  three 
children,  who  are  now  living  within  the  bounds  of  Hope- 
w^ell,  with  a  numerous  posterity.  Mrs.  Alexander  inherited 
from  her  father  an  opthalmic  disease  which  has  proved  a 
sore  affliction  to  the  fourth  generation. 

Rebecca  married  Marshall  McCoy  and  located  one  mile 
east  of  the  church.    He  was  a  successful  farmer,  very  pop- 
ular in  his  neighborhood,  entertained  lavishly,  and  was  a 
deacon  in  Hopewell.    They  raised  a  large  and  interesting 
family.  But  three  out  of  nine  children  have  deceased.  The 
eldest  son,  John  F.  McCoy,  was  missing  in  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,   supposed   to  have  been   killed.     The   other 
members  of  the  family  reside  within  the  boundary  of  which 
we  write.     Mr.   McCoy  was  killed  by  the  explosion  of 
blasting  powder  at  a  copper  mine,  near  his  house,  in  1855. 
Mrs.  McCoy  is  still  living,  in  her  ninety-third  year;  her 
phvsicpl  condition  is  feeble,  but  her  mind  is  perfectly  clear, 
and  she  relates  incidents  of  her  past  life  with  wonderful 
correctness.     She  is  cheerful   and  happy,    awaiting    her 
change. 

John   "Ramsey  Alexander  learned   the   wagon-making 


16  BIOGIIAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

tra'lc,  which  he  followed  for  many  years,  and  was  also  a 
successful  farmer.  He  married  Harriet  Henderson,  a 
woman  of  deep  piety,  and  greatly  beloved  by  her  neigh- 
bors. They  had  a  beautiful  home  ten  miles  north  of  Char- 
lotte, on  the  Statesville  road.  They  raised  seven  children, 
who  were  an  honor  to  their  parents.  The  oldest,  Amanda, 
married  Rev.  W.  W.  Pharr,  D.  D.,  a  Presbyterian  minister, 
who  was  very  popular  with  the  people.  ''Bettie"  married 
Dr.  Watson  Rankin,  of  Cabarrus,  a  fine  physician.  They 
raised  an  interesting  family.  Nancy  moved  to  Florida  and 
married  Capt.  Stewart.  She  is  now  a  widow,  in  the  orange 
business.  Sophia  married  John  Sample  and  moved  to  Ten- 
nessee, where  both  deceased  without  children.  Andrew 
H.  married  Miss  Jennie  McLean  and  moved  to 
Florida.  They  have  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Thomas 
Lafayette  began  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  Charlotte  in  1852. 
Married  Mary  Connon,  of  Missouri.  By  close  attention 
to  business,  he  is  one  of  our  largest  merchants,  and  pos- 
sessed of  a  handsome  fortune.  His  wife  died  in  1893. 
Three  children  survive  to  cheer  him  in  his  declining  years. 
Francis  Ramsey,  a  handsome  youth,  was  captain  of  a 
company  in  the  Fifty-sixth  Regiment,  North  Carolina 
troops.  He  led  his  men  in  many  battles  for  the  Confed- 
erate cause.  On  17th  of  June,  1864,  while  leading  a  charge 
he  was  killed,  near  Petersburg,  Va.  The  old  veterans 
speak  of  him  with  profound  respect,  and  say  he  was 
the  bravest  of  the  brave.  His  body  was  brought  home  and 
interred  in  Hopewell  graveyard,  close  by  the  side  of  his 
ancestors,  who  w^on  imperishable  renown  nearly  a  century 
before  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Capt.  Frank  Alexander 
was  a  worthy  descendant  of  such  a  heroic  ancestry.  The 
parents  have  passed  away,  and  their  home  is  in  the  hands 
-of  strangers. 

Elizabeth  married  Dr.  Isaac  Wilson,  who  settled  on 
or  near  the  dividing  range  that  runs  north  and  south, 
bef^een  the  Catawba  and  Rocky  rivers,  four  miles  east 
ot   Hopewell.     He  cultivated  a   farm  and   did   a  large 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  17 

practice,  extending  over  probably  one-fourth  of  the 
county.  He  was  a  member  of  Hopewell  for  many  years, 
a  very  prominent  physician,  and  influential  citizen.  They 
had  six  children.  The  two  youngest — Thomas  and  Gil- 
breth,  both  gave  their  lives  in  the  cause  of  the  Confeder- 
acy. Joseph  is  a  successful  farmer  near  Beattie's  Ford. 
Dr.  J.  ]\IcCamie  Wilson  has  been  in  constant  practice 
near  Davidson  College  for  forty  years.  James  Wilson  is  a 
farmer  two  miles  northeast  of  Hopewell.  Isabella,  a  very 
bright  and  intelligent  woman,  married  Andrew  Parks,  and 
moved  to  Statesville,  where  she  recently  died.  They  all 
reared  families  and  are  amongst  our  best  citizens.  Mrs. 
Wilson  died  of  erysipelas  during  the  terrible  epidemic  in 
1845.  The  doctor  passed  off  in  1886;  much  esteemed  and 
beloved  by  his  neighbors. 

James  McKnitt  Alexander  located  and  established  an 
excellent  farm  with  all  the  appurtenances  for  comfort  and 
a  prosperous  living,  six  miles  east  of  Hopewell.  He  was  an 
excellent  farmer  and  fond  of  the  chase.  He  kept  good 
horse?  and  a  fine  pack  of  hounds,  and  frequently  indulged 
in  fox  hunting,  but  not  to  the  neglect  of  his  farm.  Like  all 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  he  was  a  consistent  member  of 
Hopewell  church.  He  married  Mary  Wilson.  They  raised  a 
family  of  six  children — only  three  are  now  living.  He  died 
of  typhoid  fever  in  1855.  A  few  years  afterwards  his  widow 
married  Dixon  Kerns,  a  worthy  gentleman  of  the  neigh- 
borhood; he  also  proved  a  good  farmer.  They  raised  four 
children,  but  one  of  whom  survives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kerns 
now  reside  in  Iredell  county,  north  of  Davidson. 

Abigail  married  Henderson  Robinson;  prepared  a  home 
and  farm  three  miles  east  of  Hopewell;  had  scarcely  begun 
the  race  of  life  when  they  both  fell  victims  to  the  terrible 
scourge  of  erysipelas  that  visited  the  Hopewell  section  in 
1845.  This  epidemic  was  fearful  in  its  ravages.  The  peo- 
ple were  almost  panic  stricken.  Deaths  were  so  numerous 
it  was  difficult  to  have  the  dead  decentlv  buried. 

Isabella  married  Dr.  Calvin  Wier.     Thev  built  a  home 


18  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

on  the  Statesville  road  five  miles  east  of  Hopewell.  Her 
health  was  always  delicate,  and  soon  succumbed  to  that 
dread  disease,  consumption.  After  her  decease  Dr.  Wier 
moved  to  Mississippi,  and  in  a  short  time  passed  to  the 
gieat  beyond.     No  representative  succeeding. 

Benj.  W.  Alexander  established  a  home  in  sight  of  the 
old  homestead,  six  miles  east  of  Hopewell;  was  a  success- 
ful farmer  and  business  man  for  many  years  a  civil  officer, 
member  of  the  county  court  and  colonial  of  militia.  He 
married  Elvira  McCoy.  They  raised  four  daughters  and 
one  son  to  adult  age.  The  oldest  daughter,  Jane,  married 
Theophilus  Cannon  of  Cabarrus,  and  died  while  young. 
They  left  four  children.  Antoinette  married  Martin  Bar- 
rinp-er,  and  died  withoirt  issue.  Melvina  married  Rev. 
Watts.  She  is  now  a  widow,  living  with  her  son  in  States- 
ville. Alice,  the  youngest,  married  Chalmers  Rankin,  of 
Mooresville,  where  they  are  happily  situated  with  several 
children.  John  McCoy  was  a  briliant  young  man,  had  just 
fmished  his  junior  course  in  Davidson  College,  when  he 
was  cut  of¥  in  the  bloom  of  youth.  Colonel  Alexander 
and  wife  continued  with  us  until  the  clouds  of  Civil  War 
had  passed  over,  and  they  quietly  and  peacefuly  fell  asleep 
in  a  full  hope  of  immortal  life. 

George  Washington,  the  youngest,  was  married  three 
times,  his  last  wife,  Sally  Jetton,  only  left  children.  They 
are  all  living  and  prove  a  comfort  to  an  invalid  mother. 
Bain,  the  oldest  son,  married  Jane  Gillespie.  They  live  on 
the  Statesville  road  near  his  mother.  Joseph  and  Jetton 
have  not  married,  and  live  with  their  widowed  mother,  tak- 
ing care  of  her.  The  only  daughter — Minnie — married 
MacCannon,  and  live  in  Cabarrus  county.  Mr.  George 
W.  Alexander  was  an  excellent  farmer,  also  a  surveyor. 
Their  home  is  situated  on  the  Tuckesege  road,  four  miles 
east  of  Hopeewell.  Mr.  Alexander  passed  away  several 
years  ago.  His  widow  survivors,  an  invalid — fortunately 
well  cared  for  by  her  sons. 

Dr.  Joseph  McKnitt  Alexander,  second  son  of  John  Mc- 


BIOGBAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  19 

Knitt  Alexander,  was  born i774-   He  was  siir- 

ronnrled  with  the  best  advantages  possible  in  early  life. 
Every  advantage  was  given  to  acquire  an  education;  he 
graduated  at  Princeton;  studied  medicine  and  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Pennsylvnania.  Nature  was  prod- 
igal in  bestowing  her  gifts,  his  mind  was  not  only  quick  to 
perceive,  but  was  logical  and  well  trained.  He  married 
Dovy  Winslow,  a  daughter  of  Moses  Winslow,  a  wealthy 
and  educated  gentleman  of  English  parentage.  A  story  of 
those  early  days  is  told  that  Robert  Davidson,  a  son  of 
Major  John  Davidson,  was  a  favored  suitor  for  the  hand 
of  the  fair  ]\Iiss  Dovy;  that  he  was  so  enamored  and  wor- 
shipped so  devoutly  at  her  shrine,  he  wanted  others  to 
know  of  his  good  fortune  in  the  prospective,  and  he  invited 
his  friend  Dr.  Joe  to  visit  her  with  him;  but  alas  for  the 
course  of  true  love,  his  friend  knocked  him  out  the  first 
round  and  carried  of¥  the  prize.  Dr.  Joe  met  with  a  sad 
affliction  in  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife  soon  after  the 
birth  of  their  only  child,  which  he  called  for  his  wife's 
father  INIoses  Winslow.  He  and  the  little  son  made  their 
honje  with  his  brother,  William  Bain  Alexander,  for  many 
years,  in  fact,  until  Dr.  Winslow  was  married.  Dr.  Joe's 
practice  was  very  extensive,  covering  a  large  territory.  He 
had  certain  points  or  stopping  places  for  the  public  to 
know  where  he  could  be  intercepted.  His  life  was  a  labor- 
ious one,  but  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  doing  much  good 
to  the  suffering.  As  might  be  expected,  he  was  a  member 
of  Hopewell,  and  after  having  spent  a  long  life  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  fellowmen,  he  was  quietly  gathered  to  his  fath- 
ers, in  the  year  1841.  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age. 

Dr.  Moses  Winslow  Alexander,  a  son  of  Dr.  Jos. 
McKnitt  Alexander  was  born  at  Alcxandriana.  the  home- 
stead of  his  grand  father,  in  1798,  May  3d.  His  mother 
having  died  while  he  was  an  infant,  he  was  nursed  and 
cared  for  by  his  uncle's  family,  and  was  one  of  the  family. 
-After  he  was  grown  up  and  educated  he  studied  medicine, 
adopting  the  profession  of  his  father,  and  practiced  with 


20  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

liini.  He  married  Violet,  a  daughter  of  General  Joseph 
Grahani.  They  built  a  home  a  short  distance  west  of 
AJexandriana.  He  engaged  very  extensively  in  farming; 
also  owned  and  operated  a  farm  in  Alabama.  They  had 
a  large  family  of  children,  several  of  whom  died  before 
reaching  maturity.  Graham  and  Wistar,  with  Emily  and 
Eliza,  passed  away  in  the  bloom  of  youth.  Junius,  a  very 
popular  young  man,  fell  a  victim  in  the  first  epidemic  of 
dysentery  ever  experienced  in  this  section,  in  1855.  This 
epidemic  continued  for  two  years,  partially  abating  in  win- 
ter. It  is  estimated  that  at  least  1,000  persons  died  with 
this  disease  in  Mecklenburg  county  during  the  warm 
months  of  '54  and  '55.  A  peculiarity  of  the  disease  was, 
it  was  much  more  fatal  in  the  white  race  than  in  the  col- 
ored. 

Hamilton  LaFayette  was  a  highly  educated  gentleman, 
graduated  in  Princeton,  studied  law,  and  volunteered  as  a 
private  soldier  in  cavalry  service  in  the  Confederate  army. 
He  lived  but  a  short  time  after  the  termination  of  hostil- 
ities. Dovy  married  Rev.  H.  B.  Cuningham,  D.  D.  They 
jWed  at  Alexandriana,  built  an  elegant  house  and  tilled  a 
small  farm.  Dr.  Cuningham  was  pastor  of  Hopewell  from 
1844  to  1855.  They  left  no  children.  Isabella  married 
•  Dr.  W.  J.  Hays,  of  Lincoln  county,  an  educated  and  cour 
leous  gentleman.  He  ^as  an  elder  in  Unity  church,  an 
earnest  friend  and  advocate  of  the  truth  of  religion  with- 
out ostentation.  About  i860  they  moved  to  Mecklen- 
burg, and  for  a  few  years  resided  at  the  homestead  of  his 
wife's  father.  For  the  last  twenty-five  years  they  have 
resided  in  Charlotte.  They  have  but  one  son  living, 
Junius,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Fort  Mills.  The  doc- 
tor and  his  good  wife  are  still  with  us,  enjoying  life,  sur- 
' rounded  with  hosts  of  friends. 

Sophia  and  her  sister,  Mrs.  Julia  Smith  (whose  husband 
died  in  the  service  of  the  Confederacy)  live  together,  in  an 
eleg-ant  home  on  one  of  the  thoroughfares  of  the  city, 
where  they  dispense  a  Christian  charity  that  is  appreciated 


BIOGllAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  2i 

by  all  good  people.  They  are  very  popular  with  both  old 
and  }-oung-.  as  evidenced  by  the  hundreds  of  friends  who 
visit  at  their  home. 

Alice,  one  of  the  most  estimable  ladies  of  this  large  con- 
nection, married  Dr.  G.  W.  Graham,  one  of  the  most  pop- 
ular gentleman  in  the  city.  He  does  a  lucrative  practice 
in  his  specialty,  as  an  oculist  and  aurist.  They  have  an 
elegant  home,  where  they  delight  to  w'elcome  and  enter- 
tain their  friends. 

Captain  Sydenham  B.  Alexander,  the  youngest  son,  has 
been  more  prominently  before  the  public  than  any  other 
of  the  family.  He  graduated  in  Chapel  Hill,  and  entered 
the  Confederate  army  as  captain  of  an  infantry  company, 
in  which  he  did  good  service.  After  the  war  he  was  a 
successful  farmer.  He  purchased  a  farm  three  miles  west 
of  Charlotte,  where  he  became  noted  for  raising  fine 
stock,  especially  horses  and  cattle.  He  mingled  much 
with  the  people  and  was  very  popular.  He  w^as  elected 
several  times  to  the  State  Senate,  where  he  contributed 
greatly  to  the  building  of  a  system  of  good  roads,  with 
which  his  name  wall  always  be  associated.  He  was  a  pro- 
nounced' Alliance  man,  and  in  favor  of  all  Alliance  de- 
mands, including  the  restoration  of  silver  as  a  money 
metal.  He  was  twace  elected  to  Congress,  serving  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  four  years.  He  married  a  Miss 
Nicholson  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  His  wife 
died  several  years  ago,  leaving  six  children.  His  father. 
Dr.  Winslow^  Alexander,  died  in  1845,  February  27th, 
l)eing  the  first  victim  of  the  fearful  epidemic  of  erysipelas 
that  w^as  so  fatal  in  the  Hopewell  section.  His  mother 
survived  her  husband  many  years,  lived  to  train  her  chil- 
dren till  all  had  established  characters  of  virtue  and  use- 
fulness. 

Abigail  Bain,  daughter  of  John  McKnitt  Alexander, 
married  "Rev.  Samuel  C.  Caldwell,  in  the  year  1702.  They 
lived  for  a  short  time  on  what  is  known  as  the  Albert  Wil- 
son place,  seven  miles  northwest  of  Charlotte.     Mr.  Cald- 


22  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

well  preached  at  Hopewell  and  Sugar  Creek.  Later  on 
he  built  the  brick  house  one  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of 
Sugar  Creek  church.  He  discontiued  his  services  at 
Hopew-ell  in  the  year  1806,  a  full  account  of  which  is 
given  on  a  former  page.  They  had  two  children,  Thomas 
and  Jane.  Soon  after,  while  the  children  were  helpless, 
their  mother  was  called  away.  In  a  few  years  Mr.  Cald- 
well married  Elizabeth  Lindsay,  of  Greensboro.  They 
had  seven  sons  and  one  daughter. 

One  of  the  first  wife's  children.  Dr.  D.  T. 
Caldwell,  located  in  Charlotte  to  practice  medi- 
cine. He  was  a  good  man  in  every  sense  of  the 
Vv^ord,  an  excellent  physician  and  courteous  gentleman,  an 
elder  in  Sugar  Creek.  He  married  Harriet  Davidson, 
daughter  of  Hon.  William  Davidson,  of  Charlotte.  They 
had  eight  children,  but  four  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Baxter  and  Alice  live  together  in  the  old  homestead — 
neither  married.  Sarah  Jane  married  George  Donald  and 
lives  in  Greensboro.  Minnie  married  John  Springs 
Davidson.  They  live  at  the  old  Davidson  homestead 
near  Hopewell.  Jane,  the  only  daughter  of  the  first  wife 
married  Rev.  W.  S.  Pharr.  They  lived  near  Ramah 
Church,  where  he  preached  (also  at  Mallard  Creek)  for  a 
half  a  century.  They  had  but  one  son,  the  Rev.  S.  C. 
Pharr,  D.  D.,  a  most  eloquent  preacher.  Mrs.  Pharr  died 
of  consumption  when  her  son  was  but  a  small  boy.  Rev. 
W.  S.  Pharr  continued  until  after  the  close  of  the  Civil 
War,  when  he  too  passed  into  rest.  Rev.  Dr.  Pharr  mar- 
ried Margaret  Springs.  She  is  now  a  widow  living  with 
one  of  her  sons.  Of  Rev.  S.  C.  Caldw^ell's  second  wife's 
eight  children  five  were  preachers  of  the  Gospel,  two  law- 
yers and  one  a  merchant.  As  they  did  not  live  in  the 
Hopewell  boundary,  we  pass  them  by. 

Jane  Bain,  daughter  of  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  mar- 
ried Rev.  James  Wallace.  He  preached  at  Providence 
church  for  many  years.  They  had  several  children,  who 
moved  to  Alabama  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  cen- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  23 

tury.  Mrs.  Wallace  when  called  home  was  buried  in 
Providence  graveyard.  Their  son  James  while  attending 
the  classical  school  at  Sugar  Creek  church,  taught  by 
Rev.  S.  C.  Caldwell,  in  1809,  delivered  an  original  speech 
at  the  closing  of  the  school,  the  subect  of  which  was,  "The 
Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence,  May  20, 
1775."  Many  of  the  audience  there  assembled  had  been 
spectators,  and  some  had  been  signers  of  the  famous  docu- 
ment, when  it  was  promulgated  in  Charlotte.  At  this 
time  no  one  would  have  thought  of  denying  the  truth  of 
the  transaction  when  so  many  living  witnesses  of  the  fact 
were  present.  Mr.  Caldwell,  the  teacher,  was  a  ripe 
scholar,  had  at  this  time  been  in  the  ministry  eighteen 
years,  being  surrounded  by  these  witnesses,  and  coming  in 
almost  daily  contact  with  some  of  the  signers,  and  having 
married  a  daughter  of  the  venerable  secretary  of  the  con- 
vention, it  is  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  he  would  have 
sanctioned  a  speech  by  his  pupil  (and  nephew)  unless  he 
treated  his  subject  fairly  and  truthfully.  The  late  D.  A. 
Caldwell,  a  gentleman  of  fine  attainments  and  much 
esteemed  for  his  integrity,  testified  that  he  was  present  at 
the  school  closing,  heard  the  speech,  and  that  it  was 
approved  and  endorsed  by  all  present. 

Margaret,  a  daughter  of  John  McKnitt  Alexander,  mar- 
ried Colonel  Alexander  Ramsay,  of  East  Tennessee.  They 
lived  at  the  junction  of  the  Holston  and  French  Broad; 
built  an  elegant  home  and  lived  in  affluence.  His  home 
and  postofBce  he  named  IMecklenburg,  in  honor  of  his 
wife's  nativity.  They  raised  four  children.  His  two  sons 
occupied  high  positions  in  social  and  literary  life.  Dr. 
Tames  G.  M.  Ramsay  wrote  the  Annals  of  Tennessee, 
which  is  the  standard  history  of  the  State.  The  doctor 
was  an  ardent  Confederate,  and  for  his  patriotism  he  suf- 
fered great  loss,  1)y  the  enemy  burning  his  house  and  a 
valuable  library. 


24  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Davidson  family  occupies  an  important  place  in 
history.  Robert  Davidson,  of  Pennsylvania,  married 
Isabella  Ramsay;  they  were  of  Scoth-Irish  parentage, 
raised  in  the  Presbyterian  faith.  Robert  died  while  quite 
a  vouno^  man,  soon  after  the  birth  of  his  second  child.  His 
widow,  with  the  two  children,  moved  to  Rowan  county, 
N.  C,  in  the  year  1740.  Here  she  engaged  in  farming, 
and  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Mr.  Henry  Henry, 
an  educated  and  polished  gentleman,  a  graduate  of 
Princeton,  who  was  teaching  school  on  the  Yadkin,  near 
Salisbury.  The  two  children  received  their  education 
here;  and  John  also  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.  In 
1760,  John,  hoping  to  better  his  financial  condition,  hav- 
ing a  good  and  lucrative  trade  moved  to  Hopewell  neigh- 
borhood, bringing  his  sister  Mary  with  him  to  keep  house 
for  him,  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Catawba  river, 
where  later  in  life  he  built  the  elegant  brick  residence, 
which  in  still  later  years  was  the  home  of  his  grandson,  A. 
E.  Davidson.  This  splendid  mansion  was  accidentally 
burned  in  1886,  while  occupied  by  John  Springs  Davidson, 
a  great  grandson  of  the  builder,  Major  John  Davidson. 
Major  John  Davidson  became  quite  a  prominent  charac- 
ter in  Mecklenburg  history  during  the  Revolutionary 
period,  and  also  afterwards  in  developing  the  agricultural 
and  iron  industries  of  the  country.  He  was  a  signer  of 
the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence;  and 
served  in  both  the  State  militia  and  Continental  armies. 
,He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  After  the  war 
he  was  prominent  as  a  magistrate,  as  a  farmer,  and  as  a 
pioneer  in  starting  and  developing  the  iron  interest  of  the 
country.  Ordinary  iron  was  then  worth  ten  cents  a 
pound,  and  being  a  master  blacksmith,  he  had  a  fine  op- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  25 

portunity  to  amass  a  fortune.  He  married  Violet,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Wilson,  a  neighbor  who  came  from 
the  north  of  Ireland  about  1740.  Mr.  Wilson  belonged  to 
the  nobility  of  England.  In  after  years  his  family  was 
visited  by  a  nephew  of  General  Sir  Robert  Wilson,  but  the 
acquaintanceship  was  not  kept  up,  as  this  occurred  long 
before  steam  was  applied  to  navigation.  They  had  three 
sons  and  seven  daughters. 

Isabella    married    General    Joseph    Graham  who  was 
present    in     Charlotte    on     the    20th    of     May,     1775, 
and    testified    to    the    truthfulness    and    validity    of    the 
Declaration     promulgated    on     that     memorable     occa- 
sion.    He  was  the  first  sheriff  of  Mecklenburg  county. 
When  not  disabled  by  wounds,  he  was  constantly  in  the 
service  of  his  country  till  the  close  of  the  war.     Our  com- 
mon country  will  ever  cherish  his  memory  with  a  feeling 
of  gratitude  for  his  patriotic  devotion  to  the  cause  of  free- 
dom.    The  exact  spot  on  the  great  road  leading  to  Salis- 
bury about  four  miles  from  Charlotte  is  still  pointed  out 
where  General  Graham  was  shot  down  and  left  for  dead  by 
Tarlton's  command,  the  evening  of  the  battle  when  Corn- 
wallis  entered  Charlotte,  September  26,   1780.     He  was 
discovered  by  a  young  woman  while  out  hunting  her  cows 
— "Aunt  Susie  Alexander."     She  managed  to  take  him 
home  with  her,  and  dressed    his  wounds.     His    military 
career  having  been  written  in  the  histories  of  the  State, 
will  not  be  repeated  in  these  sketches.     But  one  of  Gen- 
eral (jraham's  large  family  lived  in  Hopewell  territory — 
Mrs.  Dr.    Winslow   yMexander,    whose    family    has    been 
already  accorded  a  place  in  a  former  chapter.     Governor 
W.  A.  Graham,  though  not  a  resident,  was  so  closely  con- 
nected with  the  Hopewell  people,  that  a  few  words  will 
noi  be  considered  out  of  place     He  was  among  the  last 
v/ho  possessed  that  physical  mould  of  features  characteris- 
tic of  Revolutionary  worthies  that  we  see  in  the  portraits 
of  the  great  men  of  a  hundred  years  ago.     That  rugged, 
stern,  inflexibilitv  of  character  formerly  stamped  so  boldly 


2(j  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

in  the  features  of  the  framers  of  our  Republic,  has  disap- 
peared, been  supplanted  by  what  is  called  a  more  relined 
civilization.  Governor  Graham  was  a  dignified,  courtly 
gentleman  of  the  old  school,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem 
as  a  statesman.  He  filled  at  dift"erent  times  almost  every 
position  of  trust — State  Legislature,  Governor,  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  United  States  Senator  and  Confederate  State 
Senator.  During  his  long  political  course,  not  a  breath  of 
suspicion  was  ever  whispered  against  his  good  name.  To 
X)ass  unscathed  through  such  an  ordeal,  shows  extraordi- 
nary inegrity  and  faithfulness  in  the  performance  of  pub- 
lic duty.  His  name  will  ever  be  cherished  with  pride  by 
all  Carolinians. 

Sally  Davidson  marriied  Rev.  Alexander  Caldwell,  a  son 
of  Rev.  David  Caldwell,  D.  D.,  of  Guilford,  N.  C,  who 
exercised  a  wonderful  influence  in  behalf  of  the  patriot 
cause,  and  also  of  religion  and  education  in  North  Caro- 
lina    Mr.  Alexander  Caldwell's  mother  was  a  daughter 
of  Alexander  Craighead,  the  noted  minister  who  taught 
the  people  to  resist  tyranny,  who  suffered  himself  to  be 
driven  from  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  for  his  preaching 
opposition  to  kingly  tyranny;  when  he  came  to  Mecklen- 
burg the  people  heard  him  gladly,  and  accepted  his  politi- 
cal teaching,  the  same  as  his  religious  teaching.     A  great 
deal  is  due  the  memory  of  Mr.  Craighead,  for  the  lessons 
of  liberty  he  taught  the  people,  that  in  a  few  years  devel- 
oped into  the  out-spoken  Declaration  of  Independence, 
that  astonished  the  British  no  less  than  it  did  the  people 
of  other  colonies,  who  thought   our  people  hasty,   and 
action  premature.     Mr.  Craighead  ceased  from  his  labors 
in  1762,  and  was  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  Sugar  Creek. 
Yet  the  lessons  he  taught  bore  fruit  to  the  satisfaction  and 
happiness  of  our  people,  and  all  good  people  love  to  honor 
his  nam^e  as  a  benefactor  indeed.     Rev.  Alexander  Cald- 
well was  possessed  of  a  mind  of  great  brilliancy,  a  popular 
preacher,  an  earnest  worker,  he  soon  finished  his  course, 
and  passed  away  while  quite  a  young  man.     His  wife  was 


BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  27 

left  a  widow  with  three  children  to  raise,  viz:  Patsy,  John, 
and  Alexander.     Airs.  Caldwell  and  children  returned  to 
her  lather's  where  they  were  cared  for  and  resided  until 
her  son  x\lexander  built  a  home  and  took  her  to  live  with 
him,  where  she  continued  until  her  course  was  run.     This 
family  were  remarkable  people,  born  with  that  cast  and 
mould  of  feature  that  belonged  to  an  earlier  and  more 
rugged  civilization,  they  were  self-reliant,  never  shrank 
from    responsibility.     Their    longevity    was     remarkable, 
lliey  reached  an  average  of  nearly  ninety  years.     Their 
mental  acumen — inherited    from  their    father — was    far 
above  the  average;  so  also  was  their  physical  stamina;  they 
scarcely  knew  what  fatigue  meant.     By    nature    always 
polite  and  courteous,  would  not  offer  an  insult  to  any  one, 
but  were  prompt  to  resent  an  indignity  from  whatever 
source.     Major  John  H.  Caldwell  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  activity;  a  successful  farmer,  a  warm  advocate 
of  internal  improvements.   State  and  county  fairs,   rail- 
roads, etc.     He  worked  large  contracts  in  railroad  build- 
ing.    He  accumulated  a  large  fortune  for  the  times  in 
which  he  lived.     He  married  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
Springs,  who  was  noted  for  being  an  excellent  farmer; 
keeping  everything  remarkably  tidy  and  clean,  as  well  as 
making  a  profit  out  of  all  his  crops.     Mr.  Caldwell  lived 
for  some  time  three  miles  east  of  Davidson.     Here  he 
made  the  brick  for  the  college  and  all  the  college  build- 
ings.    The  price  paid  for  brick  delivered  was  $375  per 
thousand.     He  also  made  the  l)rick  for  the  mint  in  Char- 
lotte.    He  was  a  great  reader,  especially  of  history,  and 
fiad  a  tenacous  memory,  rendering  him  quite  an  encyclo- 
pedia.    They  left  but  one  child,  Mary,  who  married  Dr.  J. 
M.  Davidson.     They  now  reside  in  Charlotte,  surrounded 
with  some  of  their    children,    grandchildren,    and    many 
friend?.     After  the  demise  of  Mrs.   Caldwell,   the  major 
bought    a    plantation    from    Jacky    Davidson,    known  as 
Long  Creek  Mills.     He  resided    here    for    several    years 
operating  his  farm.  1)Ut  had  the  most  of  his  slaves  working 


28  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

contracts  on  the  North  CaroHna  Raih-oad.  After  dispos- 
ing of  his  farm,  he  moved  to  Charlotte,  where  he  contin- 
ued to  reside  until  his  physical  system  became  exhausted, 
and  he  passed  away  in  the  house  of  his  brother  D.  A.  Cald- 
well in  the  year  1879. 

David  Alexander  Caldwell  bought  and  cultivated  a 
farm  six  miles  north  of  Hopewell  and  live  miles  east  of 
Covv^an's  Ford.  He  was  trained  on  the  farm  of  his  uncle, 
Robert  Davidson,  as  an  overseer  and  general  manager. 
His  uncle  was  a  very  early  riser,  and  would  have  his 
nephew  in  the  fields  ready  for  work  with  horses  and  hands, 
as  soon  as  sufficiently  light  to  see  the  rows.  His  uncle 
taught  him  to  get  up  soon,  but  never  taught  him  to  love 
early  rising.  While  building  up  his  farm,  Mr.  Caldwell 
would  engage  in  spirited  squirrel  hunts  for  a  wager — of 
small  amount — a  bushel  of  fruits  and  candy,  or  a  pot  of 
apple  jack.  The  young  men  of  the  neighborhood  would 
get  up  a  "scalp"  hunt.  Like  any  other  game  or  contest, 
they  would  choose  two  leaders,  or  "captains,"  who  would 
select  their  respective  friends  for  the  hunt.  Whichever 
pa^-ty  got  in  the  most  "scalps,"  enjoyed  the  treat  at  the 
expense  of  the  defeated  side.  In  counting  "scalps"  certain 
rules  were  agreed  upon.  Thus,  a  squirrel,  a  crow,  part- 
ridge (their  bills)  were  each  counted  i.  A  fox,  or  deer,  was 
counted  10.  A  hawk  or  wild  turkey  counted  5,  etc.  After 
a  three  weeks  hunt  the  evidences  of  game  taken  was  so 
numerous  that  it  was  not  uncommon  to  see  them  brought 
in  three  bushel  bags  for  the  judges  to  count.  After  vic- 
tory was  awarded  to  the  most  successful,  the  entertain-f 
nient  began.  Several  of  these  friends  were  literary  gen- 
tlemen, and  while  testing  the  merits  of  the  punch,  would 
discuss  the  eminent  writers  of  the  day.  Others  again 
would  indulge  in  story  and  song  until  a  late  hour  before 
they  would  disperse  for  the  night. 

Mr.  Caldwell  married  the  widow  of  his  cousin. 
Rev.  Robert  Caldwell,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church    in    Statesville.      Her    maiden    name  was  Mar- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  29 

tlia  Bishop,  of  Virginia.  She  was  a  woman  of 
splendid  character.  Her  mental  attainments  were  of  a 
high  order,  and  her  Christian  virtues  have  probably  never 
been  excelled.  She  had  a  bright  and  cheerful  disposition, 
scattered  sunshine  in  the  pathway  of  life  as  naturally  as 
sunbeams  fall  upon  a  garden  of  flowers — all  unconscious 
of  the  happiness  bestowed.  She  was  greatly  beloved  by 
all  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  know  her  in  her  country 
hcmie.  They  reared  but  two  children.  Dr.  John  Edward 
Caldwell  lives  at  the  old  homestead,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  farming  .He  has  never  mar- 
ried. Sally  received  a  liberal  education,  had  advantages 
that  few  ever  enjoy.  No  better  teacher  than  her  mother 
was  to  be  found,  but  when  grown  she  went  to  Edgeworth 
Seminary,  in  Greensboro,  N.  C,  where  she  led  her  class. 
She  married  Dr.  Edward  White,  of  Fort  Mills,  S.  C.  He 
entered  the  Confederate  army  in  1861,  and  gave  his  life 
for  the  cause  we  loved  so  well.  His  widow  resides  in 
Charlotte,  where  much  of  her  life  has  been  spent  in  taking 
care  of  her  aged  parents  and  uncle,  who  passed  away  sev- 
eral years  ago.  She  enjoys  an  enviable  reputation  as  a 
teacher,  and  is  much  beloved  by  her  pupils.  Like  her 
parents,  she  has  a  brilliant  intellect,  and  a  mind  well 
stored  with  knowledge;  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
literature  of  past  ages  as  well  as  the  present. 

David  A.  Caldwell  was  probably  the  best  cultured  man 
in  the  county.  He  read  extensively,  but  not  promiscu- 
ously. The  Reformation,  the  Scotch  Convenanters, 
Cromwell's  regime,  the  Puritans  and  the  results  of  their 
immigration  to  America,  were  themes  and  subjects  with 
which  he  was  perfectly  familiar.  In  his  younger  days  he 
was  particularly  fond  of  Scott's  novels  for  historical 
romance,  Byron  and  Burns  for  poetry.  Posessed  of  a 
logical  mind  and  retentive  memory,  he  was  ever  ready  to 
draw  whatever  he  desired  from  his  great  store-house,  the 
coiitentF  of  which  had  been  so  carefully  prepared  during  a 
long  life.    Religiously  he  was  a  devoted  Presbyterian,  and 


30  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

a  Southern  Presbyterian,  yet  he  had  a  charity  as  broad  as 
Christian  faith,  and  had  convictions  so  decided  that  when 
he  had  formed  an  opinion  no  amount  of  pohcy  could 
swerve  him  from  duty  as  he  saw  it. 

To  show  his  decision  of  character  and  devotion 
to  principle,  a  reminiscence  is  given.  About  the 
15th  of  April,  1865.  as  General  Vaughn's  cavalry 
were  homeward  bound,  fourteen  of  them  partook  of  Mr. 
Caldwell's  hospitality,  by  spending  the  night  with  him, 
where  both  men  and  horses  were  well  cared  for — except 
one  of  their  horses  was  fed  too  liberally  with  corn,  which 
produced  fuunder,leaving  the  animal  unfit  for  service.  The 
captain  of  the  squad  examined  Mr.  Caldwell's  stables  and 
said  he  would  take  a  certain  bay  horse,  the  only  buggy 
horse  the  family  had,  and  allow  Mr.  Caldwell  to  make  out 
the  best  he  could  with  the  sick  animal  lying  in  the  yard. 
Mr.  Caldwell  objected,  but  offered  a  certain  claybank 
horse.  The  captain  said:  ''Mr.  Caldwell,  we  appreciate 
your  hospitality,  and  am  sorry  to  take  your  horse,  but  you 
know  necessity  knows  no  law."  Mr.  Caldwell  answered 
firmly:  "I  will  kill  any  man  who  puts  his  hand  on  my 
horse."  The  captain  dismounted,  and  with  a  courteous 
smile,  walked  directly  up  to  Mr.  Caldwell  and  said:  "Let 
us  have  no  foolishness;  don't  you  know  I  have  fourteen 
men,  you  are  all  alone,  and  if  you  kill  one  of  my  men  the 
others  would  kill  you?  Surely  you  would  not  sacrifice  your 
life  for  a  horse!"  W  ith  a  dignity  and  courage  I  never  saw 
surpassed,  he  turned,  and  pointing  his  finger  in  the  cap- 
tain's face,  his  eyes  flashig  with  determination  to  defend 
his  rights,  said:  "No,  not  for  a  horse,  but  for  the  principle, 
T  will  do  it  without  hesitaiton."  The  captain  said:  "Boys, 
let  his  horse  alone."  He  was  a  man  of  refined  manners, 
courtly,  dignified,  yet  approachable  by  the  humblest  hu- 
man being,  with  a  hospitality  that  knew  no  bounds;  hence 
it  is  no  wonder  that  his  country  home — Glenwood —  (sur- 
rounded with  all  the  comforts  that  wealth  and  good  taste 
could  furnish),  was  a  resort  for  the  educated  and  refined, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  31 

not  only  for  his  immediate  section,  but  from  other  coun- 
ties and  other  States.  It  was  always  a  pleasure  to  hear 
Mr.  Caldwell  talk  on  any  subject,  especially  poetry,  poli- 
tics, history  or  religion.  He  was  once  a  candidate  for  the 
Legislature  on  the  Whig  ticket,  was  defeated  in  the  elec- 
tion, but  received  every  vote  cast  in  his  precinct.  This 
speaks  volumes  for  ones  character  at  home. 

He  reached  his  ninety-third  year  before  his  course  was 
run,  when,  surrounded  by  many  friends,  who  comforted 
him  in  his  declining  years,  he  quietly  fell  asleep,  feeling 
assured  that  his  Savior  would  keep  that  which  he  commit- 
ted to  His  care,  and  that  real  life  was  only  begun,  where 
his  wife  had  preceded  him  a  short  time.  What  manifesta- 
tion of  wisdom,  to  prepare  in  time  for  a  habitation  in  eter- 
nity! Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  were  devoted  Christians, 
cheerful  and  happy. 

Patsy  Caldwell  grew  up  to  maturity  in  the  family  of  her 
grandfather,  where  she  lived  with  her  mother  until  she 
married  Col.  John  H.  (usuall  called  "Jacky")  Davidson, 
in  1820. 

They  lived  for  quite  a  number  of  years  on  Long  Creek 
Mill  Farm,  eight  miles  north-west  of  Charlotte.  It  is  un- 
certam  when  the  first  mill  was  built,  but  it  was  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  war.  It  was  built  and  run  by  Mr.  Long. 
Col.  John  H.  Davidson  bought  the  property  and  built  the 
present  mill — about  150  yards  lower  down  the  creek  than 
the  one  operated  by  Mr  Long.  This  was  probably  in  the 
year  1820.  Elections  have  been  held  here  for  almost  a 
centtirv.  It  was  here  in  a  walnut  grove  the  farce  of  "mil- 
itia drills"  was  witnessed  for  more  than  half  a  century 
before  the  war  of  the  Confederacy.  Three  or  four  times 
a  year  these  musters  were  held  "according  to  law."  A 
drum  and  fife  furnished  the  music;  and  as  to  the  drilling, 
it  was  a  laughable  burlesque.  Scarcely  half  the  men  were 
"cinippcd"  according  to  law,  but  were  readily  excused,  if 
?r\  excuse  was  offered.  This  was  also  one  of  the  places 
for  collecting  taxes,  and  while  the  sheriff  would  be  taking 


32  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

in  the  taxes  and  giving  receipts,  the  candidates  for  the 
various  county  and  State  offices  would  harrangue  their 
fellow  citizens  on  the  prominent  issues  of  the  day.  It  was 
at  these  public  speakings  that  the  mass  of  the  people  got 
their  political  information.  Newspapers  were  high 
priced,  and  but  few  postoffices,  consequently  the  claims  of 
political  rivals  had  to  be  made  known  on  the  "stump, "and 
in  fact  the  people  were  fond  of  this  excitement,  frequently 
becoming  so  warmed  up  in  defence  of  their  chiefs  as  to 
engage  in  fierce  personal  combats.  Whiskey,  cider, 
watermelons  and  ginger  cakes  were  regarded  as  essen- 
tials on  these  interesting  occasions,  and  whichever  candi- 
date "treated"  most  liberally  was  "remembered"  most 
kindly  on  election  day:  These  happy  hays  and  customs 
have  passed  away  with  the  civilization  of  a  former  period, 
and  in  their  place  we  only  have  the  modern  picnic,  with 
whatever  that  embraces. 

Colonel  "Jacky"  and  Mrs.  Davidson  lived  happily  here 
for  fifteen  years.  They  raised  tw^o  children,  Alexander 
and  Margaret.  They  moved  to  Perry,  Maringo  county, 
Alabama,  in  1835,  where  Colonel  Davidson  became  very 
wealthy,  and  was  an  honored  member  of  the  society  of 
the  "new  country,"  as  Alabama  was  then  called.  Margaret 
married  a  Mr.  Pitts,  a  gentleman  of  fine  attainments. 
They  reared  an  excellent  family.  Henry  and  Alex  Pitts 
are  now  leading  representatives  of  the  bar  of  Alabama. 
Alexander  Davidson  was  a  fine  scholar,  a  very  successful 
farmer,  and  served  several  terms  in  the  United  States  Con- 
gress. Mrs.  Patsy  Caldwell  Davidson  was  possessed  of  a 
strong  mind,  and  probably  not  behind  her  two  brothers 
in  intellectual  capacity  or  mental  attainments.  It  is  a 
great  blessing  to  have  had  such  an  ancestry. 

Elizabeth  Davidson — called  "Betsy" — married  William 
I. .  Davidson,  a  son  of  Gen.  Wm.  Lee  Davidson,  who  was 
killed  February  i,  1781,  at  Cowan's  Ford,  while  resisting 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  33 

Cornwallis  as  he  crossed  the  Catawba  river.*  Air.  David- 
son and  wife  lived  three  miles  east  of  Davidson  College. 
Here  he  operated  very  successfuly  a  large  farm,  raising 
everything  that  would  thrive  in  our  climate.  He  exper- 
imented with  silk  culture — planted  an  orchard  of  multi- 
cakis,  a  species  of  the  mulberry,  to  feed  the  silk  worms. 
He  also  built  houses  especially  for  the  worms  to  work 
in — to  spin  the  cocoons.  He  succeeded  admirably  in 
raising  the  silk,  but  the  price  paid  for  the  raw  material 
was  so  small,  it  would  not  justify  the  labor  and  expense 
attached  to  the  industry.  There  was  quite  a  silk  fever 
passed  over  the  country  about  this  time,  (1844),  but  only 
a  few  persons  went  to  much  expense  in  trying  the  exper- 
iment. It  only  lasted  a  year  or  two  until  every  one 
abandoned  the  idea  of  silk  farming.  One  or  two  elegant 
gowns  and  a  few  pairs  of  fine  stockings  were  all  that  sur- 
vived of  this  attempt  to  make  silk  culture  a  part  of  our 
industries.  Mr.  Davidson  donated  the  lands  for  Davidson 
College,  and  was  one  of  its  chief  supporters;  did  a  great 
deal  to  get  it  under  way.  The  college  was  named  in  honor 
of  his  father,  Gen.  Davidson.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  physi- 
cal proportions,  and  also  of  mental  attainment,  wielding 
great  influence  in  the  upper  section  of  the  county.  It 
was  his  custom  to  entertain  the  senior  class  after  their 
final  examination,  by  having  them  to  dine  with  him — not 
forgetting  to  have  a  number  of  ladies  grace  the  occasion. 
This  oasis  in  student  life  was  ever  looked  forward  to  with 
anticipated  pleasure.  After  spending  the  best  years  of 
his  life  in  the  home  of  his  youth,  surrounded  with  the 
friends  of  his  early  manhood,  and  done  much  for  the  cause 
of  education,  his  beloved  wife  having  been  called  home, 
he  moved  to  Alabama,  and  engaged  in  farming  on  a  larger 


*  George  Davidson  came  from  Pennsylvania — date  unknown — 
probably  about  1740.  He  married  Polly  Brevard,  a  dauj^^hter  of  John 
Brevard,  and  was  a  sister  of  Adam  and  Dr.  Kphraim  Brevard.  Gen. 
Wm.  Lee  Davidson  was  a  son  of  this  marriage. 


34  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

scale.  During  his  life  he  did  much  for  his  friends.  He 
gave  a  home  to  his  nephew,  John  Caldwell,  at  the  age  of 
nme  3-ears,  and  provided  for  him  till  he  reached  his  major- 
ity. Mr.  Davidson  died  about  the  close  of  the  Civil  War, 
lea  V  ing  a  good  name  that  will  be  honored  by  all  who  were 
fortunate  enough  to  have  known  him.  Mr.  Davidson  did 
not  live  within  the  boundary  of  which  we  write,  but  hav- 
ing married  a  daughter  of  Major  Davidson,  and  having 
associated  with  the  Hopewell  people,  and  exercised 
a  good  influence  there  by  his  great  force  of  character,  we 
deemed  it  proper  to  give  this  short  sketch  as  due  him,  and 
also  due  his  wife's  kindred.  He  had  no  offspring  to  per- 
petuate his  name. 

Rebecca,  daughter  of  Major  John  Davidson,  married 
Captain  Alexander  Brevard,  of  Lincoln  county,  (Captain 
A.  Brevard  was  the  son  of  John  Brevard,  who  was  born  in 
1730,  and  died  1790;  buried  in  Centre  graveyard.  These 
dates  were  copied  from  the  tombstone  by  Colonel  Wil 
Ham  Lee  Davidson,  April,  1896.  Ford's  sketches  states 
that  the  widow  Brevard  had  seven  sons  in  the  patriot 
army,  and  for  this  crime  the  British  burned  her  house  and 
destroyed  her  property.  The  discrepancy  is  only  as  to 
dates).  He  certainly  came  of  a  patriotic  family,  and  was 
himself  engaged  in  nine  decisive  battles.  After  the  war 
Captain  Brevard  eschewed  pubHc  life,  and  quietly  settled 
down  to  farming  and  operating  a  furnace  for  iron  works, 
castings,  etc.  They  raised  five  sons  and  three  daughters, 
viz:  Ephrahim  Joseph,  Robert,  Franklin,  Theodore, 
Mary,  Harriet,  Elluisa.  None  of  this  family — children  of 
Rebecca  Davidson — ever  resided  in  Hopewell  territory, 
and  we  will  only  say  this  was  a  family  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary st?nding  in  the  community,  well  educated,  and  were 
held  in  high  esteem  for  their  integrity,  and  forwardness  in 
developing  the  resources  of  the  country.  The  captain 
h's  wife  and  all  the  children  have  passed  away,  but  their 
posterity  does  honor  to  the  Revolutionary  stock  from 
which  they  sprung.     Dr.  R.  J.  Brevard,  and  Hon.  Frank- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  35 

lin  Brevard  McDowell,  are  worthy  representatives  of  the 
fainily,  now  reside  in  Charlotte. 

Mary,  (known  as  Polly),  daughter  of  Major  John 
Davidson,  married  Dr.  \\'illiam  McLean,  surgeon  in  the 
Continental  army.  They  raised  a  large  family,  were  well 
educated.  Two  of  the  sons  were  eminent  physicians, 
viz:  John  and  \\^illiam.  Rebecca  was  the  only  one  of  the 
family  who  lived  in  the  Hopewell  boundary.  She  mar- 
ried Dr.  Isaac  Wilson,  and  lived  four  miles  east  of  the 
church.  She  died  childless.  Dr.  William  B.  McLean 
lived  in  Lincoln  county,  eight  miles  west  of  the  church. 
He  did  a  large  practice  in  the  territory  of  which  we  write. 
He  raised  a  most  interesting  family.  His  son.  Dr. 
Robert  McLean  resides  at  his  father's  homestead,  a  mile 
or  two  west  of  Cowan's  Ford.  'Aunt  Polly  McLean,'  as 
the  kindred  called  her,  lived  many  years  after  her  hus- 
band's decease.  Inheriting  longevity  from  her  paternal 
ancestors,  she  attained  to  a  great  age.  Her  home  was  in 
Gaston  county.  The  McLeans  were  noted  as  handsome 
men,  as  well  as  for  their  sterling  integrity.  Dr.  William 
B.  McLean  was  remarkably  handsome,  (and  without 
vanity),  an  elder  in  Unity  church,  and  greatly  beloved  by 
hi?  friends  and  associates.  We  may  give  some  reminiscen- 
ses  of  Speight  McLean's  gallantry  when  sketching  the 
Latta  family. 

Violet  Davidson  married  William  Bain  Alexander,  an 
account  of  whose  family  has  already  been  given  in  a  for- 
mer chapter. 

Margaret  Davidson  married  Major  James  Harris,  and 
moved  to  Alabama. 

Robert  Davidson,  son  of  Major  John  Davidson, 
fotmded  a  home,  worthy  of  the  name,  one  mile  west  of  his 
father's  elegant  mansion.  He  married  Peggie,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Adlai  Osborne,  from  Centre  congregation  in  south 
Iredell.  The  Osborne  family  was  noted  for  patriotism,  in- 
telligence, and  unswerving  integrity.  Mr.  Davidson  and 
wife  had  no  children,  but  they  acted  the  part  of  parents  in 


30  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

raising  several  orphan  boys;  amongst  those  they  were 
permitted  to  raise  was  Mrs.  Davidson's  nephew,  James 
W.  Osborne,  a  grandson  of  Adlai  Osborne,  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  The  Hon.  James  W.  Osborne  was  quali- 
fied by  his  attainments  in  hterature  and  in  legal  lore,  to 
have  filled  any  position  within  the  gift  of  the  American 
people,  with  credit  to  the  country  and  honor  to  himself. 
As  a  Superior  Court  judge,  he  had  no  superior,  and  as  an 
advocate,  was  without  a  peer.  His  eloquence  was  so 
appreciated  and  admired  that  he  was  called  the  Demos- 
thenese  of  Western  Carolina.  The  writer  has  heard  him 
often  before  a  jury,  where  by  his  pathos  as  well  as  his 
argument,  a  jury  seldom  failed  to  render  a  verdict  in 
favor  of  his  client.  His  speeches  in  ecclesiastical  courts 
(he  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church)  were  always 
of  a  high  order,  being  perfectly  familiar  with  church 
codes,  he  wielded  a  wonderful  influence.  This  high  order 
of  intellect  that  was  so  marked  in  Judge  Osborne's  pro- 
genitors has  not  been  lost,  but  is  continued  with  unabated 
intensity  in  his  two  sons,  Hon.  F.  I.  Osborne,  Attorney 
General  for  the  State,  and  the  brilliant  successor  to  his 
father's  name,  James  W.  Osborne,  of  New  York.  Mr. 
Mr.  Davidson  was  a  large  farmer;  owned  several  thousand 
acres  of  the  most  productive  land  bordering  on  the 
Catawba  river;  and  was  probably  the  largest  slave  owner 
in  the  county.  He  was  a  very  humane  master,  and  his 
servants  were  devoted  to  him.  He  and  his  wife,  "Aunt 
Peggy."  as  every  one  called  her,  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age, 
and  were  buried  in  the  family  plot  marked  out  and  occu- 
pied by  his  father.  Major  John  Davidson,  close  by  the 
family  mansion.  ]Mrs.  Davidson  was  known  far  and  near 
for  her  "goodness."  She  was  "full  of  the  milk  of  human 
kindness,"  and  she  was  never  heard  to  speak  ill  or  dispar- 
agingly of  a  living  soul.  Surelv  her  joys  of  bliss  were 
blooming  before  she  passed  through  the  gates. 


BIOGIIAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  37 


CHAPTER  IV. 

John  Davidson,  (commonly  called  Jacky),  son  of  Major 
John  Davidson,  married  Sally  Brevard,  a  daughter  of 
Adam  Brevard,  a  brother  of  Ephrahim,  the  author  of 
the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence.  They 
lived  near  the  old  homestead,  four  miles^  northwest  of 
Irlopewell  church.  They  raised  a  large  family,  an 
account  of  those  who  remained  in  our  territory  is  given. 
Adam  Brevard  Davidson,  the  oldest  son,  married  Mary 
Springs,  daughter  of  Jack  Springs,  a  wealthy  planter  of 
South  CaroHna.  They  resided  at  the  old  Davidson  man- 
sion, where  they  had  born  to  them  sixteen  children;  sev- 
eral of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Three  of  the  boys,  John 
Springs,  Robert  and  Richard,  were  in  the  Confederate 
army,  and  were  noted  for  their  bravery.  Mr.  Davidson 
was  a  successful  farmer,  liberal  spirited,  and  accumulated 
a  very  large  estate — worth  probably  half  million  dollars. 
He  invested  heavily  in  Confederate  bonds,  railroad 
stocks,  etc.,  all  of  which  melted  away  with  the  result  of 
the  war,  reducing  his  estate  to  less  than  one-fourth  of 
what  it  was  in  i860.  Soon  after  the  war  he  moved  to 
Charlotte,  where  he  continued  to  reside,  until  July  4, 
1896,  he  was  called  away — being  like  a  shock  of  corn  fully 
ripe,  much  esteemed  and  beloved.  He  was  in  his  eighty- 
ninth  year,  and  was  buried  in  the  Davidson  burial  yard, 
near  Rural  Hill,  with  his  ancestors.  Mr.  Davidson  was 
an  elder  in  Hopewell  church,  a  strong  advocate  of  agri- 
cultural fairs,  and  inaugurating  whatever  was  for  the  best 
interest  of  the  State. 

Dr.  Matthews  Davidson  married  a  Miss  Sylvester,  and 
moved  to  Florida.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  piety,  and  di<l 
not  hestitate  to  lead  in  acts  of  worship.  The  inclination 
to  such  a  pious  and  godly  life    was    inherited    from    his 


38  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

mother,  who  made  the  Bible  a  daily  study  for  many  years. 
She  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  idea  that  God  would 
gather  all  the  Jews  back  to  Jerusalem,  and  their  Kingdom 
be  re-established. 

Dr.  William  S.  M.  Davidson  lived,  at  what  was  known 
ap-  the  Samuel  Wilson  place,  three  miles  northwest  of 
i^opeweh.  He  married  Jane  Torrance,  daughter  of 
James  Torrence.  She  lived  but  a  short  time,  leaving  one 
son,  James  Torrance  Davidson,  who  died  while  a  young 
man.  Dr.  Davidson  married  the  second  time  a  Miss 
Reed,  of  Alabama.  She  lived  but  a  few  years  and  died 
without  issue.  He  then  married  Mary  Johnston,  of  Lin- 
coln county.  Dr.  Davidson  did  a  large  practice,  his  ter- 
ritory extending  from  L^ong  Creek  to  the  Iredell  county 
line.  After  a  busy  and  useful  life  he  passed  away  in  i8 — . 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Hopewell  burial  ground.  His 
widow  survived  him  until  the  winter  of  '96,  when  she  was 
laid  to  rest. 

Constantine  Davidson,  the  youngest  son,  studied  law, 
and  located  in  Charlotte;  but  when  war  was  declared 
against  Mexico  in  1846,  he  promptly  volunteered,  raised 
a  cav^alry  company  and  served  through  the  war.  He  now 
abandoned  the  law  and  engaged  in  farming,  near  the  old 
homestead.  He  married  Jane  Henderson,  a  most  amia- 
ble and  Christian  woman.  They  raised  three  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Mr.  Davidson  was  accidentaly  drowned 
in  the  Catawba,  in  1892,  in  his  seventy-fourth  year.  His 
widow  and  son  Egbert  continue  to  reside  on  the  farm, 
fourteen  miles  from  Charlotte,  on  the  Beattie's  Ford  road. 

Isabella  Davidson  married  W^arren  Moore,  a  most  ex- 
cellent Christian  gentleman,  and  elder  in  Unity  church,  in 
Lincoln  county.  They  raised  an  interesting  family; 
none  of  whom  lived  in  Hopewell  boundary. 

Mary  Davidson  married  a  Mr.  Doby,  and  moved  to 
Alabama. 

Jacky  Davidson,  the  father  of  this  family,  sustained  a 
severe  injury  when  a  young  man,  by  a  tree  falling  on  him. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  3U 

breaking  his  skull  in  a  shocking  manner.  In  an  uncon- 
scious condition,  his  brains  oozing  out,  his  nephew,  Dr. 
John  McLean,  just  returned  from  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  summoned  to  operate  on  what  appeared  to 
be  a  dying  man.  The  operation  was  a  success.  Whether 
a  silver  plate  was  introduced  in  place  of  skull  removed  or 
x.ot,  it  is  a  fact  that  through  a  long  life  he  was  called  "Sil- 
A  er-head  Jacky."  A  most  unseemly  gully  or  trench  across 
h's  head  never  failed  to  attract  the  attention  of  children 
and  strangers.  It  is  probable  ^Ir.  Davidson  had  the  most 
ritentorian  voice  of  any  man  in  the  State.  He  could  call 
any  of  his  servants  by  name  two  miles  distant,  and  give  a 
message,  wdiich  would  be  promptly  heeded.  He  was  a 
man  of  ereat  energ^v,  and  made  a  success  of  whatever  he 
undertook.  After  a  long  and  peaceful  life  he  was  laid  to 
rest  by  the  side  of  his  wife  who  preceeded  him  several 
years,  in  the  family  burial  ground.  The  passing  away  of 
these  patriarchs  appears  like  setting  a  centennial  mile 
post  to  mark  specific  eras  in  our  civilization.  With  their 
decease  many  of  the  old  customs  that  were  common  in 
their  day  cease  to  exist,  and  unless  recorded  in  biographi- 
cal sketches,  will  never  be  known  in  the  future. 

Benjamin  Wilson  Davidson,  youngest  son  of  Major 
John  Davidson,  w^as  born  May  20,  1787.  In  honor  of  the 
famous  Declaration  of  Independence,  of  which  Major 
Davidson  was  a  signer,  he  always  called  his  son  Independ- 
ent Ben;  his  birth  occuring  on  the  twelfth  aniversary  of 
the  great  event.  He  married  Betsy  Latta,  a  daughter  of 
James  Latta,  who  lived  two  miles  west  of  Hopewell 
church;  an  account  of  which  family  will  be  given  later  on. 
Mr.  Davidson  and  wife  established  an  elegant  home  four 
miles  northeast  of  the  church,  and  had  for  neighbors  Rev. 
John  Williamson,  James  Torrance,  Thomas  Kerns,  etc., 
making  a  most  excellent  neighborhood.  They  raised  six 
sons,  viz:  Robert  Franklin.  John  Ramsay,  James  Latta. 
V/illiam  Lee,  Joseph  Malcolm,  Benjamin  Howard. 

FJobert    Franklin   was  born    t8i().        Tie     located      in 


40  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Charlotte  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  engaged  in  mer- 
cha^.dising.  He  married  EHzabeth  B.  McCombs.  They 
raised  five  children,  viz:  Benjamin  Wilson  Davidson,  died 
March  15,  1890.  Samuel  McCombs  Davidson,  a  highly 
educated  gentleman,  now  engaged  teaching  school  in 
Ch.-.rlotte.  Alice  Brandon  married  Richard  Moore,  a 
merchant  in  the  city.  Mary  Virginia,  at  home  with  her 
father.  Like  a  dutiful  daughter  taking  care  of  him  in  the 
evening  of  his  life.  Fannie  Bright,  married  Mr.  Newsom, 
of  Crescent  City,  Fla.  Mrs.  Davidson  passed  away  many 
years  ago,  much  esteemed  and  beloved.  Mr.  Davidson 
continues,  but  in  very  feeble  health.  He  has  been  a  man 
of  great  energy,  and  has  done  much  to  advance  the  inter- 
ests of  the  city.     He  was  Mayor  from  1861  to  1865. 

John  Ramsay  Davidson,  son  of  Benjamin  Wilson 
Davidson,  was  born  August  2,  1821.  He  married  Euge- 
nia Mecaughnehey,  of  Rowan  county  They  lived  at  the 
homestead  of  his  father.  They  raised  three  children,  viz: 
A'-inie  Augusta,  single,  and  takes  care  of  her  father  who  is 
in  the  decline  of  life.  Joseph  Wilson  Davidson  moved  to 
Alabama  after  the  close  of  the  war,  where  he  married  and 
has  an  interesting  family.  Angerona  Davidson  married 
]\'Ir.  Kendall,  of  .Wadesboro. 

This  was  indeed  a  lovely  family.  Mr.  Davidson  was  an 
e!der  in  Hopewell,  and  all  his  family  were  members.  The 
family  is  now  scattered,  and  the  elegant  homestead  has 
passed  into  hands  not  connected  with  the  Davidsons, 
although  good  people  and  strong  Presbyterians.  This  is 
a  world  of  change. 

James  Latta  Davidson  was  a  man  of  powerful  physique, 
kind,  courteous,  and  the  very  soul  of  honor.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  Springs,  and  settled  south  of  Charlotte.  He 
died  when  quite  a  young  man,  without  children.  His 
v/idow  married  Zenas  Grier,  and  was  soon  a  widow  the 
second  time.     She  now  resides  in  Charlotte. 

William  Lee  Davidson,  son  of  Ben.  Wilson  Davidson, 
was  born  February  10,  1825.     He  was  a  man  of  striking 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  41 

appearance,  handsome  as  Apollo,  of  line  address  and  ele- 
gant manners.  He  graduated  at  Davidson  College  in 
j8|2,  and  located  in  Charlotte,preparatory  to  the  practice 
of  law.  In  1846  when  war  was  declared  against  Mexico, 
he  volunteered  and  went  to  the  front  with  that  patriotic 
ardor  inherited  from  Revolutionary  ancestors,  but  the 
tropical  climate  was  too  debilitating  even  for  so  strong  a 
constitution  as  he  possessed,  and  forced  him  to  return 
several  months  before  the  war  closed.  It  was  several 
years  before  his  health  was  permanently  restored.  When 
the  war  between  the  States  began  in  1861,  he  raised  a 
company,  with  his  brother,  B.  H.  Davidson,  as  lieutenant, 
was  assigned  with  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  Regiment, 
enlisted  for  the  war.*  Captain  Davidson  fully  under- 
stood the  situation,  and  acted  the  part  of  a  brave  soldier 
to  the  termination  of  the  war.  For  the  fighting  qualities 
of  his  regiment,  it  was  known  as  the  'bloody  Seventh.' 
.As  field  oflicers  were  killed  or  disabled  Captain  Davidson 
was  promoted  to  major,  lieutenant  colonel  and  colonel; 
which  last  position  he  held  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  in  '64.  and  sent  to  Fort  Delaware, 
Point  Lookout.  While  there  he  was  drafted  with  fifty 
other  Confederate  ofificers  and  sent  to  Morris'  Island,  in 
Charleston  harbor,  and  placed  under  fire  of  Confederate 
guns.  This  diabolical  act  of  the  Federal  Government 
was  so  outrageously  offensive  to  ordinary  civilization, 
that  the  English  Consul  forbade  the  execution  of  such  a 
fiendish  order.  After  the  war  Colonel  Davidson  married 
Annie  Irvin  Pagan,  of  South  Carolina.  Her  great  grand- 
lather  was  killed  at  Fishing  Creek,  near  Chester,  S.  C, 
during  the  Revolutionary  war.     They  had  seven  children. 


*  Capt.  Wm.  Lee  Davirlson's  company  was  equipped  for  service 
by  the  liberality  of  his  brother,  l-'obt.  V.  Daviflson.  The  blood  of 
patriots  always  shows  up  at  the  front.  Mr.  Davidson  was  too  infirm 
to  go  in  person,  but  promptly  furnished  the  sinews  of  war  for  those 
who  were  physically  able  for  active  service. 


42  BIOGllAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

viz:  James  Latta  Davidson,  Mary  Pagan  Davidson,  Zeb. 
Vance  Davidson,  Bessie  Irvin  Davidson,  Annie  Lee,  Lelia 
Faysoux,  William  Lee  Davidson,  Jr.  Mrs.  Davidson 
died  in  Lincolnton.  Since  her  decease  the  family  has 
moved  to  Chester,  S.  C,  where  they  continue  to  reside. 

Dr.  Joseph  Malcom  Davidson,  son  of  Ben.  Wilson 
Davidson,  after  graduating  at  Davidson  College,  studied 
medicine,  and  located  in  Charlotte.  He  married  Mary 
daughter  of  Major  J.  H.  Caldwell.  She  possessed  a  bril- 
Hant  intellect,  highly  accomplished,  and  very  pretty;  she 
had  many  suitors  and  admirers  among  the  elite  of  the 
fashionable  circles,  and  was  the  reigning  belle  of  Wash- 
ington City  for  a  longer  period  than  has  been  accorded 
to  any  other  lady.  Her  father  being  wealthy  and  fond 
of  literature,  she  had  every  opportunity  to  improve  her 
m.ind  by  travel  as  well  as  books.  She  made  acquaintances 
in  many  places  of  fashion  and  elegance.  They  have 
r:."sed  a  remarkably  pleasant  family  of  children,  viz:  Bessie 
married  Dr.  Bradfield,  John  Caldwell,  Harry  Wilmer, 
Josephine,  and  Leha  Maud.  Without  saying  anything 
disparaging  to  others,  this  is  the  most  handsome  and  in- 
tellectual family  the  writer  has  ever  been  acquainted  with. 
Dr.  Davidson  and  wife  have  much  to  be  grateful  for  in 
such  an  excellent  family  of  children  to  bless  and  comfort 
them  in  old  age. 

Benjamin  Howard  Davidson  was  the  youngest  son  of 
Ben  Wilson  Davidson.  When  quite  a  small  boy — after 
the  decease  of  his  father,  and  the  marriage  of  his  mother 
to  Major  Rufus  Reid — he  was  taken  by  his  Uncle  Robert 
Davidson,  and  raised  as  if  he  had  been  his  own  son.  He 
was  given  a  classical  education,  and  entered  the  mercantile 
line  of  business  with  his  brother  Robert  in  Charlotte.  He 
married  a  northern  woman.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  Mr.  Davidson  joined  with  his  brother,  William 
Lee  Davidson  in  raising  a  company,  and  was  a 
lieutenant  in  the  company.  No  braver  soldier 
ever  followed  the  Confederate  flag,  or  one  more  devoted 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  43 

to  the  cause  we  held  so  dear.  Lieutenant  B.  H.  David- 
son was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg,  September  17, 
1862.  It  is  an  undisputed  fact  that  the  descendants  of 
Revolutionary  sires  were  the  best  soldiers  in  the  Confede- 
rate army.  So  far  as  known  not  one  proved  untrue  to  the 
cause  of  the  South.  This  appears  still  more  strange  when 
we  admit  the  fact  that  four  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
men  from  the  South  entered  the  Northern  army.  These 
were  chiefly  lineal  descendants  of  Tories  or  foreigners  who 
came  to  this  country  after  the  struggle  for  independence 
w^as  ended. 

Benjamin  Wilson  Davidson,  the  patriarchal  head  of 
this  division  of  the  Davidson  family,  must  have  been  a  re- 
markably handsome  man,  and  of  more  than  ordinary 
brain  power — if  allowed  to  judge  from  his  posterity.  Mr. 
Davidson  died  in  1829,  being  only  42  years  old.  His 
widow  married  Maj.  Rufus  Reid,  of  Mt.  Mourn,  by  whom 
she  had  one  daughter,  who  married  Richard  A.  Torrance. 

Isabella  Ramsay,  who  married  Robert  Davidson,  and 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  moved  to  Rowan  county, 
N.  C,  and  there  married  Henry  Henry.  She  who  was 
the  maternal  ancestor  of  all  the  great  Davidson  family, 
raised  several  children  by  her  second  marriage,  all  of 
whom  moved  West  except  one  daughter  who  accompa- 
nied her  mother,  after  the  decease  of  Mr.  Henry,  to  Maj. 
John  Davidson's,  her  son.  Here  Mrs.  Henry  remained  the 
balance  of  her  days  and  was  buried  in  Baker's  grave  yard. 
Here  the  Henry  daughter,  half  sister  to  Maj.  John  David- 
son, married Little.     They  had  a  son  called  Henry 

Little.  He  was  a  millwright,  built  screw  presses 
for  packing  cotton,  lived  in  Lincoln  county,  where  the 
name  of  Little  is  proverbial  for  the  number  who  bear  the 
name. 


■i4  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  V. 

As  has  been  observed  in  a  previous  chapter,  Robert 
Davidson,  while  Hving.  in  Pennsylvania,  had  two  children, 
viz:  John  and  Mary.  After  reaching  his  majority,  John 
and  his  sister  left  their  mother  in  Rowan  county,  she  hav- 
ing formed  a  second  marriage,  as  already  stated,  and  come 
to  the  western  part  of  Mecklenburg.  Some  time  after 
Jolm  married  Violet  Wilson.  Mary  married  James  Price. 
1  liey  lived  near  Baker's  graveyard.  But  little  more  than 
a  genealogy  can  be  given  of  this  interesting  family. 
They  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  viz:  John  David- 
son Price  Thomas  Price,  William  Price  and  Rachel  Price. 

J.  D.  Price  married  Jane  Beatty.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren, viz:  Rachel,  married  Ezekiel  Alexander;  Margaret, 
married  Ephrahim  Alexander;  Mary,  married  John  Potts; 
Jane,  married  John  Whitley,  and  Kisziah,  married  George 
Little. 

Tom  Price,  son  of  James  and  Mary  Price,  married  Mary 
Duckworth.     They  lived  fifteen  miles  northwest  of  Char- 
lotte, on  the  Beattie's  Ford  road.     William  Price  moved 
to  Tennessee.     Rachel  Price  married     John  Bell.     This 
family  is  probably  of  more  prominence  than  some  others, 
and  will  be  given  a  more  extended  historical  sketch.  They 
lived  eight  miles  north  of  Hopewell     Church,  and  four 
miles    east    of    Cowan's    Ford,  on    the    Catawba    river. 
M?-.  Bell  was  a  skilled  blacksmith,  and  a  high-toned  Chris- 
tian gentleman.     His  wife,  Rachel,  was  all  that  a  good 
husband  could  desire.     They  had  a  number  of  children, 
but  one  boy,  John  Bell,  Jr.,  married  Melissa  Alexander, 
and  they  raised  one  son  and  two  daughters.  Polly,  Jennie 
and  Sally  never  married,  but  spent  useful  lives  and  were 
greatly  beloved  for  their  good  works.    To  nurse  the  sick 
and  wait  on  the  sufifering  was  their  peculiar  calling.    Mar- 


BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  -15 

tha  married  James  Goodman,  a  good,  Christian  man. 
They  raised  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Rachel  Bell 
married  Alexander  Gibson,  a  good.  Christian  man. 

The  descendants  of  Jas.  Price  and  Alary  Davidson  were 
amongst  our  best  people,  noted  for  Christian  integrity 
and  charitable  deeds.  The  son  of  Lamira  Bell,  who  married 
D?vid  Fiddler,  occupies  the  old  homestead. 

Jane  Price,  daughter  of  John  Davidson  Price, 
married  John  \\'hitley.  They  raised  two  sons,  viz: 
Decater  and  Robert  Davidson  Whitley.  The  hus- 
band and  father  died  before  the  youngest  son,  Robert 
D.  ^^^^itlev,  was  born.  Robert  Davidson,  an  uncle 
of  Mrs.  Whitley,  took  her  and  the  children  and  contribu- 
ted much  to  supporting  the  widow  and  orphans.  The  fam- 
ily moved  to  Alabama,  and  after  several  years  Mrs.  Whit- 
ley and  her  son,  Robert  D.,  returned  to  North  Carolina. 
Mr.  R.  D.  Whitley  purchased  the  Long  Creek  mill  farm 
and  married  Esther  McCoy,  daughter  of  Marshal  McCoy, 
and  built  up  a  delightful  home.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  his  wife  became  an  invalid,  and  lived  but  a  few  years. 
She  was  a  finely  educated  lady,  and  was  much  beloved  by 
her  neighbors.  Mr.  Whitley  acted  wisely  in  selecting  a 
second  wife,  to  marry  Martha  McCoy,  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife.  She  proved  a  mother  indeed  to  her  sister's  children. 
They  are  now  past  the  meridian,  but  enjoy  life,  surround- 
ed l)y  a  happy  family  of  children  and  a  host  of  friends. 


46  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

BARRY  FAMILY. 

Richard  Barry  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1726.     His 
father  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  where  patriotism 
and  Presbyterianism   were    synonimous    terms.     Richard 
mairied  Ann  Price,  of  Maryland,  and  moved  to  Mecklen- 
l)urg  county,  North  Carolina,  many  years  prior  to  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.     He  settled    near     McDowell  Creek, 
where  it  crosses  the  Beattie's  Ford  road,  thirteen  miles 
from  Charlotte.     Mr.  Barry  was  a  man  of  mark  in  this 
section  of  the  country.    He  was  one  of  that  brave  number 
who  signed  the   Mecklenburg   Declaration  of   Indepen- 
dence on  May  20,  1775,  pledging  their  lives,  their  fortunes 
and   their  sacred  honor  to  defend  the  country  against 
British  tyranny.    He  fought  bravely  in  the  battle  of  Cow- 
an's Ford,  February  ist,  1781.     When  night  came  on  he 
and  David  Wilson  took  the  body  of  General  Davidson, 
who  had  been  killed  in  the  battle,  off  the  field  and  pre- 
pared it  for  burial,  which  was  done  the  same  night  in  the 
Hopewell  graveyard.    At  this  period  Mr.  Barry  was  fifty- 
five  years  old.     He  was  an  elder  in  Hopewell  Church,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  County  Court.     The  first  Presbyte- 
rian   sermon    ever    preached    in    all    this    section    was 
beneath     a     shade     tree    by     the     side     of    his     house. 
It     cannot     be     positively     stated     who     this     preacher 
was.     but     it     is     more     than     probable     that     it     was 
Rev.  John  Thompson.     We  have  no  means  of  knowing 
whence  he  came,  or  what  his  special  purpose  was  in  locat- 
ing in  this  place,  but  we  are  fully  persuaded  that  he  lived 
about  five  miles  towards  Beattie's    Ford     from     Barry's 
house:  that  his  daughter  married  John  Baker,  for  whom 
Baker's  graveyard  was  called.     More  will  be  said  on  this 
subject  under  the  heading  of  "Baker's  Graveyard."   Rich- 
ard Barry  reared  seven  children,  viz:     Richard,  Jr.,  An- 
drew, Hugh,  Violet,  Jane,  Nellie  and  Ann. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  47 

Ricliard  Barry,  Jr.,  married  Margaret  McDowell.  An- 
drew Barry  married,  his  first  wife,  Larissa  Sample.  His 
second  wife  was  Ruth  Byers.  Their  children  were  An- 
drew Jr.,  Polly  and  Nancy.  These  three  never  married. 
Ann  married  William  Grier.  They  left  one  child,  viz: 
Mary  Ann  Grier.  She  married  W.  A.  Gillespie.  Dovey 
married  John  Sloan.  They  left  serveral  children.  Hugh, 
John  and  Ann  never  married.  Nellie  married  Barney 
Torrance.  Violet  married  William  Monteith.  They  lived 
four  miles  east  of  Hopewell,  where  they  raised  a  family  of 
three  children — all  members  of  Hopewell  Church.  Lee 
Monteith  was  an  elder,  and  noted  for  his  piety  and  church 
work.  He  died  in  1854.  Richard  Monteith,  like  his 
brother  Lee,  never  married.  He  was  an  excellent  farmer, 
a  clever  gentleman,  and  popular  with  his  neighbors.  He 
died  in  1861.  Sophina  Monteith  married  Andrew  Alex- 
ander, and  lived  at  the  old  Monteith  homestead.  They 
had  three  sons  and  two  daughters;  both  girls  died  while 
young.  The  sons,  Abner,  Richard  and  Charles,  are  living, 
married  and  have  families  of  children. 

The  Barrys  and  Monteiths  were  worthy  descend- 
ants of  a  noble  ancestry.  But  not  superior  to 
the  union  of  the  Harrys  and  Samples  with  the 
same  house  of  Barrys.  Ann,  daughter  of  Richard 
Eprry.  Jr..  married  Col.  David  Harry,  an  elder  in 
Hopewell.  They  lived  one  mile  south  of  the  church. 
They  raised  several  children,  viz:  John  F.  Harry  married 
Rebecca  Price,  an  estimable  lady.  They  raised  an  excel- 
lent family — full  of  energy  and  good  habits.  Batt  Harry 
another  son.  lost  a  leg  in  the  cause  of  the  South;  he  also 
raised  a  nice  family  who  are  active  members  of  the  church. 
Margaret  Harry  married  James  Henderson,  an  elder,  and 
most  excellent  man. 

Ellenor  Barry  married  Batt  Trwin,  of  Sugar  Creek, 
quite  a  prominent  and  useful  man. 

Jane  Barry  married  W.  A.  Sample;  they  lived  two  miles 
south-west  of  the  church.  They  raised  an  interesting  and 


48  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

worthy  family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  sons 
John,  McCamie,  Hugh  and  David,  were  all  members  of 
Hopewell,  were  soldiers  in  the  Confederate  army,  and 
proved  worthy  descendants  of  their  Revolutionary  ances- 
tors who  were  noted  for  bravery  and  constancy  in  the 
long  struggle  for  freedom  from  British  tyranny.  Martha 
Sample,  the  oldest  daughter,  was  a  beautiful  young  lady, 
highly  educated  and  accomplished,  fell. a  victim  to  con- 
sumption just  as  she  had  entered  womanhood.  A  younger 
sister  married  Samuel  McElroy.  They  lived  in  sight  of  the 
church,  blessed  with  an  interesting  family  of  children  now 
grown  up  into  men  and  women,  members  of  Hopewell 
church. 

Mr.  W.  A.  Sample,  was  a  ruling  elder  and  active  mem- 
ber of  Hopewell  for  many  years.  He  and  his  good  wife 
passed  away  many  years  ago,  and  their  place  is  filled  by 
their  children  and  grand  children. 

William  Sample  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland, 
probably  in  company  with  the  Alexanders  who  settled  in 
Marvland  He  located  in  Sugar  Creek  neighborhood  in 
1760.  He  married  Elizabeth  Alexander,  a  half-sister  of 
John  McKnitt  Alexander.  Late  in  life  he  moved  near  to 
Hopewell  church.  They  had  a  son  and  daughter,  who 
resided  and  raised  families  in  the  boundary  of  which  we 
write. 

The  son.  James  Sample,  like  his  father,  was  an  elder  in 
the  church,  a  pious  man  held  in  much  esteem  by  the  con- 
ere^ration.  He  married  Martha  Robinson,  of  Sugar 
Creek.  Their  children  were  W.  A.  Sample,  an  elder  of 
the  church  who  married  Jane  Barry,  daughter  of  Richard 
Barry,  Jr. 

Milas  Sample,  a  godly  man  and  earnest  worker 
in  the  church,  married  Adaline  Henderson.  They 
lived  three  miles  east  of  Hopewell,  where  they  raised  an 
excellent  family  of  children.  The  oldest  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth, married  John  Houston,  a  ruling  elder;  Harriet 
married  A.  T-  Hunter,  an  elder  in  the  A.  R.  P.  church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  49 

Huntersville.  Mary  married  C.  N.  Blythe,  a  member  of 
Hopewell.  Martha  married  C.  W.  McCoy.  They  built  a 
home  two  miles  east  of  Hopewell,  where  they  raised  an 
mteresting  family.  Agnes  married  Marion  Ranson,  an 
excellent  citizen  and  elder  in  A.  R.  P.,  Huntersville.  They 
have  an  interesting  family  growing  up.  The  three  sons 
were  J.  Wilson  Sample,  the  oldest,  killed  May  3,  1863,  in 
the  battle  of  Chancellorsville. 

Leroy,  the  second  son,  killed  in  the  battle  of  Ox  Hill. 
August  30th,  1862. 

Augustus  E.  Sample  went  through  the  war,  practiced 
dentistry  a  few  years,  and  entered  the  ministry,  and  is  ac- 
complishing much  good  in  the  Master's  service.  These 
three  sons  were  brave  soldiers,  and  their  memories  should 
be  kept  green  that  others  in  the  future  may  emulate  their 
patriotic  course. 

John,  the  youngest  son  of  James  Sample,  was  one  of 
the  first  graduates  of  Davidson  College.  He  moved  west 
and  taught  school  for  many  years.  Late  in  life 
he  married  Sophia  Alexander,  daughter  of  John  R. 
Alexander.  They  located  in  Memphis,  Tenn.  They  lived 
but  a  short  time. 

Elam  Sample  married  Margaret  McKee. 

Mary  Terissa  Sample  married  Franklin  Barnett.  of 
Sugar  Creek,  in  which  church  he  was  an  elder. 

Caroline  Sample  married  Robert  Henderson.  They 
lived  southwest  of  Long  Creek  mill,  and  were  good  peo- 
ple, raised  a  family  worthy  of  their  parentage.  All  mem 
bers  of  Hopewell.  Mr.  Henderson  was  a  ruling  elder  for 
many  years.  This  family  appear  to  have  been  natural 
mechanics.  Without  having  served  an  apprenticeship, 
they  were  experts  with  tools  in  wood,  iron  or  brass.  Dr. 
John  Henderson,  after  practicing  medicine  a  few  vears. 
st\idied  dentistry,  and  made  all  of  his  dental  instnmients. 
and  they  were  as  finely  polished  as  if  they  had  been  manu- 
factured by  machinery  in  New  England. 


50  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

BAKER'S  GRAVEYARD. 

Objects  ana  places,  as  well  as  men  and  women,  deserve 
historical  mention  as  facts  connected  with  the  march  of 
civihzation.  To  a  certain  extent  objects  and  places  serve 
as  mile  posts  in  the  life  of  a  nation;  and  of  all  objects  or 
places  none  are  more  interesting  or  instructive  to  a 
searcher  after  the  truth  of  history  than  burial  grounds. 

Baker's  graveyard's  first  occupant  was  in  1753,  twelve 
years  prior  to  the  building  of  Hopewell  church.  This 
burial  ground  is  seven  miles  northwest  of  Hopewell,  on 
the  west  side  of  Beattie's  Ford  road,  and  two  miles  east  of 
Catawba  river.  The  Rev.  John  Thompson,  a  Presbyte- 
rian minister,  and  probably  the  first  missionary  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  State,  ceased  from  his  labors  in  Septem]:>er, 
1753,  and  was  buried  near  his  cabin  in  which  he  had 
lived.  John  Baker,  who  lived  near  by,  married  a  daughter 
of  Rev.  Thompson,  and  in  a  few  years  died,  and  was 
buried  by  the  side  of  his  father-in-law;  hence  the  name  of 
Baker  was  given  the  place.  Hugh  Lawson,  grandfather 
of  Hon.  Hugh  Lawson  White,  was  given  sepulchre  in  this 
quiet  place.  Many  worthy  characters,  soldiers  and  godly 
church  members  found  a  last  resting  place  here.  Among 
many  others,  we  mention  Mrs.  Isabella  Henry,  mother  of 
Major  John  Davidson,  Mr.  James  Price  and  his  wife,  Mary 
Davidson  Price.  Quite  a  number  of  crude  rock  shafts, 
all  grown  over  vvith  moss,  stand  as  sentinels  in  this  lonely 
Dlace,  overshadowed  by  giant  oaks  that  have  stood  the 
storms  of  a  century  and  a  half.  The  celebrated  Dr.  Charles 
Harris,  father  of  Charles  I.  and  Wm.  Shakespeare  Harris, 
married  a  daughter  of  Rev  John  Thompson.     Dr.  Harris 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  51 

did  a  large  practice  in  Mecklenburg,  especially  in  surgery. 
He  lived  in  Cabarrus  county,  but  having  married  in 
Hopewell  territory,  we  deem  it  right  and  just  to  couple 
his  name  with  those  who  achieved  fame  for  themselves 
and  left  a  legacy  of  imperishable  benificience  to  the  peo- 
ple of  our  common  country. 


CHAPTER  VHI. 

ANDREW  MOORE'S  FAMILY. 

Jane — or  as  she  was  always  called,  Jensie — was  the  only 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Sample.  She  mar- 
ried Andrew  Moore.  They  lived  five  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  Hopewell,  on  the  Salisbury  road  from  Tucaseege 
Ford.  Mr.  Moore,  while  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  held  Armenian  doctrine,  and  made  himself  obnox- 
ious by  talking  it ;  until  he  was  refused  a  token  that  would 
a<irnit  him  to  the  Lord's  table.  This  act  on  the  part  of 
the  session  provoked  him  to  carry  his  ideas  still  further, 
and  he  set  about  at  once  to  organize  a  Methodist  church. 
It  is  quite  probable  this  church — Bethesda — if  not  the 
first,  was  amouGTSt  the  first  Methodist  churches  planted 
between  the  Yadkin  and  Catawba  rivers.  When  the 
building  was  first  put  up  Cabout  1820-25),  they  did  not 
call  it  a  church,  but  a  meeeting  house,  where  they  lield 
class  meeting,  or  society  meeting.  Their  exhorters  and 
class  leaders,  with  many  of  their  preachers,  at  that  time, 
were  extremely  ignorant,  some  not  able  to  read;  yet  ihev 
Vi'ould  deliver  cxliorlations  portrayuig  the  awful  dn.Mu 
of  ihe  i:ni)enitcnt  \y:\h  .such  warmth,  and  pray  so  loiid  a  nil 


52  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

in  such  earnest  Lones  that  a  wHd  scene  of  shouts  aici  cries 
— exercising,  as  it  was  called — that  they  wouM  become 
so  enthused  as  to  forget  all  else  for  days  at  a  time.  Mr. 
Moore  was  class  leader  for  many  years,  and  ruled  the 
church  with  autocratic  authority.  The  wearing  of  jew- 
elry, fine  clothes  or  a  veil,  was  sufficient  offense  to  justify 
suspension.  But  for  these  trivial  offenses  the  circuit  rider 
generally  restored  them  to  full  membership.  As  long  as 
Mr.  Moore  lived  he  was  regarded  as  the  leader 
of  Bethesda  church.  He  died  in  1843,  ^^'^^  ^^^ 
buried  by  the  church  he  loved  so  well.  Mr. 
Moore  was  better  known  as  a  chair-maker  than 
as  a  builder  or  propagator  of  Methodism.  There 
IS  scarcely  a  family  of  the  old  stock  of  people  but  what 
ha\^e  chairs  made  by  Andy  Moore  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  raised  six  children,  two  sons  and 
four  daughters — Amzi,  the  oldest  son,  taught  school  for  a 
short  time  and  moved  to  Alabama-  where  he  married  and 
reared  a  family,  and  his  children  are  among  the  educated 
people  of  that  State.  Two  of  them  are  professors  in  col- 
leges. Fletcher  Moore,  the  youngest,  has  always  been 
physically  weak,  but  has  attained  a  ripe  old  age,  and  is 
in  easy  circumstances.  He  married  a  neighbor  girl,  Minta 
Christianbury;  have  no  children.  Malissa  Moore  married 
James  Clark,  a  steam  doctor,  and  moved  to  Alabama. 
Emaline  Moore  married  Harvy  Montgomery,  a  local 
Methodist  preacher,  and  a  most  excellent  man.  They 
moved  to  Alabama.  Margaret  Moore  married  Daniel 
Christianbury  and  moved  to  Georgia.  Eliza  and  her 
mother  with  the  married  members  of  the  family,  moved 
west,  when  that  country  was  settling  up,  hoping  to  im- 
prove their  financial  condition.  This  was  an  excellent  fam- 
ily of  people,  without  pretention  to  anything  more  than 
they  could  attain. 

As  "tokens"  were  spoken  of  in  the  early  part  of 
this  chapter,  it  is  probably  well  to  explain  what  was 
meant    by    "tokens."     Until    within    the    last    forty    or 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  53 

fif'y  years  Presbyterians  had  long  tables,  covered  with  a 
white  linen  cloth,  on  or  at  which  the  Lord's  supper  was 
dispensed.  Preaching  began  two  or  three  days  before 
Communion  Sabbath,  and  on  Friday  or  Saturday  every 
communicant  was  expected  to  ask  one  of  the  elders  for  a 
token — a  small  piece  of  lead  or  other  metal  about  the 
size  of  a  silver  half  dime — and  when  the  communicants 
were  seated  at  the  table  the  elders  would  pass  along  and 
collect  the  "tokens."  The  object  of  this  ceremony  was 
to  protect  the  Holy  Sacrament  from  the  approach  of  un- 
worthy persons.  This  has  long  since  passed  away,  and  the 
taoles  are  also  forgotten,  and  the  whole  membership  par- 
take at  one  time,  simulating  a  family  at  home. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

James  Latta  came  from  Ireland  1790.  He  located  be- 
tween Hopewell  and  the  river.  He  built  the  house  now 
occupied  by  David  Sample  (a  shingle  roof  on  this  house 
lasted  eigthy-two  years).  In  1795  he  married  his  second 
wife,  Jane  Knox.  They  had  three  daughters,  viz: 
Betsy,  Polly  and  Nancy.  They  were  very  popular, 
and  must  have  1)een  very  pretty,  if  we  are  to 
judge  from  the  number  of  young  men  who  i^aul 
them  such  devoted  attention.  Speight  McLean  and 
his  cousin,  Joe  McK.  Alexander,  were  boon  companions, 
and  frequently  went  "courting"  together.  Late  one 
rainy  evening  they  drove  up  to  Mr.  Latta's  to  spend  the 
night.  Mr.  Latta  conjured  up  the  idea  that  the  two  gay 
Lotharios  were  preparing  to  run  away  with  his  girls,  and 
not  fancying  either  one  of  them  for  a  son-in-law.  took 


54  BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

time  by  the  fore-top  and  locked  their  carriage  wheels  to 
a  tree,  and  to  be  doubly  sure,  securely  locked  his  guests 
in  their  bed  room.  To  put  it  mildly,  Mr.  Latta  was 
"cranky"  on  the  subject  of  watching  the  boys  when  they 
carne  to  see  his  girls.  He  disliked  Speight  McLean  above 
all  others  who  visited  his  house,  and  Speight  particularly 
enjoyed  worrying  the  old  man.  On  one  occasion  Mr. 
Latta  came  in  from  his  fields  and  as  he  entered  the  house 
he  was  astonished  to  see  Polly  dressed  up  entertaining 
Mr.  McLean.  He  became  very  angry,  and  with  the  com- 
mand of  a  tyrant  ordered  Polly  to  take  ofT  her  shoes  and 
stockings,  get  a  hoe  and  go  and  dig  potatoes  for  dinner. 
She  was  very  much  confused,  but  had  to  obey.  Speight, 
with  his  accustomed  gallantry,  suggested  in  the  best  of 
humor  and  style,  "I  will  go  with  you  and  do  the  digging 
and  you  can  gather  them  into  the  basket."  The  old  man 
was  exceedingly  mad,  but  the  young  couple  enjoyed  his 
discomforture.  Elizabeth — or  Betsy — married  Benjamin 
Wilson  Davidson,  a  full  account  of  whose  family  has  al- 
ready been  given  on  a  former  page.  Mary  married  James 
Torrance.  She  was  his  second  wife.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren, viz:  Dr.  William  Torrance,  never  married,  died  while 
a  young  man;  Jane  Torrance  married  Dr.  W.  S.  M.  David- 
son. They  lived  on  the  Billy  Wilson  place.  They  had  but 
one  son,  who  survived  his  father  but  a  short  time,  his 
mr^ther  having  died  while  he  was  an  infant.  Nancy  mar- 
ried Major  Rufus  Reid,  of  Mount  Mourn,  Iredell  county. 
Mr.  Latta  died  in  1837.  His  wife  survived  him  several 
years.  The  entire  family  of  that  generation  has  been 
gathered  beyond  the  river.  The  "tact"  of  gathering  riches 
seems  to  have  been  inherited  in  the  Latta  family,  but  not 
to  hoard,  that  a  fortune  may  be  amassed,  but  for  the  ben- 
efrt  of  others. 


UIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  00 


CHAPTER  X. 

John  Montgomery,  born  in  Sugar  Creek  congregation, 
and  moved  into  the  boundary  of  HopeweU  when  quite  a 
young  man.  He  built  a  home  seven  miles  east  of  Hope- 
well church.  He  married  a  Miss  Clark.  Their  children 
were  Clark,  Harry,  Hannah,  Anna  Woods,  Dorcas,  Re- 
becca and  Narcissa.  Clark  Montgomery  married  Lelilah 
Hill,  a  daughter  of  John  Hill,  an  excellent  Christian  gen- 
tleman. Only  one  of  his  children  is  now  hving,  viz:  Co- 
lumbus Montgomery,  who  resides  in  Charlotte. 

Harvy  Montgomery  was  a  local  Methodist  preacher; 
he  married  Emaline  Moore,    an    account    of    his    family 
already    given.      Hannah    married    John    Ross.      Anna 
Woods  married  James  Ross,  father  of  Joe  Ross,  the  car- 
penter and  contractor  and  house  mover.    Dorcas  married 
Rol)ert  Walkup.     Rebecca  died  single.     Narcissa  married 
Hillery  Hill.    The  children  of  John  Montgomery  were  an 
honor  to  their  parents  and  shining  lights  in  the  church. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  married  Mary  Porter, 
who  did  not  sympathize  with  her  pious  husband,  as  his 
loving  heart  deserved.     Mr.  Montgomery  died  in   1854. 
"His  widow  survived  him  several  years.  She  was  somewhat 
of  a  hypocondriach.     At  one  time  she  became  alarmed 
with  the  idea  that  a  striped-tail  lizzard  had  found  a  lodg- 
ment in  her  lower  intestine.     She  became  very  sick  and 
sent  for  the  old  family  doctor,  and  told  him  of  her  fright- 
ful condition.     Tn  the  goodness  of  his  heart  he  tried  to 
explain  to  her  the  impossibility  of  such  a  thing  to  happen. 
But  it  was  labor  lost.     She  had  made  up  her  mind  that  n 
lizzarfl  had  taken  f|uarters  where  she  did  not  want  it,  and 
"if  Dr.  Wilson  couldn't  run  it  out  she  would  try  another 
doctor."     The  old  lady  placed  great  confidence  in  Eliza, 
a  stalwart  negro  woman  whom  she  owned,  and  after  con- 


50  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

suiting  with  her  about  the  propriety  of  supplanting  the 
old  faithful  family  doctor  with  an  untried  one,  Eliza  told 
her  she  felt  sure  from  certain  signs,  the  varment  would 
come  away  within  the  next  twenty-four  hours.  So  Eliza 
made  her  arrangements  to  relieve  her  mistress  by  a  slight- 
of-hand  process.  She  soon  secured  a  lizzard  that  was  sup- 
posed to  correspond  in  appearance  with  the  one  impris- 
oned where  the  keeper  didn't  want  it;  and  on  the  next  day 
when  she  started  to  remove  the  old  woman's  chamber 
she  dropped  the  lizzard  in,  and  immediately  shouted, 
"Oh,  Miss!  Miss!  Bless  de  Lord,  you'se  done  passed  de 
critter:  I  told  you  old  Mars-Doctor  was  givin'  you  sump- 
tiri  dat  would  fetch  it ;  de  good  Lord  will  bless  de  doctor." 
It  goes  without  saying  she  was  cured  at  once. 


CHAPTER  XL 

McCOY  FAMILY, 

James  McCoy  came  from  Pennsylvania  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  founded  a  home  one 
and  a  half  miles  east  of  Hopewell  church.  We  know  noth- 
ing of  his  wife,  but  it  is  probable  she  died  prior  to  his  com- 
ing to  Mecklenburg,  but  he  had  a  son,  John  McCoy,  who 
married  Ester  Frazier  in  1798.  After  his  son's  mar- 
riage Mr.  James  McCoy  gave  him  his  farm  and  everything 
in  the  way  of  stock  and  farm  fixtures,  and  took  leave  for 
the  unsettled  West,  and  never  returned  or  was  heard  of 
by  his  son.  John  and  wife  were  members  of  Hopewell 
church,  and  lived  to  a  great  age.  They  raised  one  son 
and    three    daughters.      One    daughter,    Nicey,    married 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  57 

Mflthew  Houston,  and  lived  between  the  old  McCoy 
homestead  and  Long  Creek  mill.  They  were  good  peo- 
ple, beloved  by  their  neighbors.  They  had  two  sons  and 
two  daughters.  The  sons,  John  and  Lafayette,  were  brave 
soldiers  and  worthy  citizens.  The  former  is  now  an  elder 
in  Hopewell,  the  latter  having  died  in  the  service  of  his 
country.  Tilley  married  George  Houston  and  moved  to 
Tennessee.  Elvira  married  Col.  B.  W.  Alexander,  an  ac- 
count of  whose  family  was  given  in  a  former  chapter.  The 
only  son,  Marshall  McCoy,  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of 
'\\'ni.  Bain  Alexander,  and  lived  one  mile  east  of  Hope- 
well, and  in  sight  of  his  father's  home.  They  raised  nine 
chill iren,  some  of  whom  have  been  mentioned  in  previous 
chapters.  Violet  married  Frank  Blythe.  John,  missing 
after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Columbus  married  Mar- 
tha Sample.  Esther  married  R.  D.  Whitley.  Martha 
married  R.  D.  Whitley,  after  her  sister's  death.  Dovey 
mai'ried  John  Blythe.  Ellie  married  David  Sample.  Har- 
riet married  Hugh  Sample.  His  youngest  son,  Albert, 
inherited  the  homestead,  having  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Gluyas,  a  most  excellent  man  of 
English  birth.  Albert  and  wife  have  an  old-fashioned 
family  of  thirteen  children,  all  living,  and  promise  to  be  of 
like  usefulness  to  our  common  country. 


CHAPTER  XH. 

Mcknight  family. 

Thomas  McKnight  married  Peggy  Falls,  a  daughter  of 
Colonel  Falls,  who  was  killed  in  ihe  battle  of  Ramsaur's 
^\\^.   during   the   Revolutionary   War.      They   H\cd    two 


58  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

miles  north  of  Hopewell  church,  where  they  worshipped 
and  held  their  membership.  They  raised  seven  children, 
viz:  Hugh  McKnight,  married  Patsy  Wilson,  a  daughter 
of  Sanmel  Wilson.  They  lived  near  by  the  old  homestead 
where  James  A.  Wilson  now  lives.  They  raised  quite  a 
large  family,  several  of  whom  are  deceased,  and  some 
moved  to  Alabama.  Gilbreth  McKnight  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Kerns. 

Isabella  McKnight  married  David  Allen.  They  lived 
at  the  old  homestead,  but  the  place  is  now  known  as  the 
David  Allen  place.  They  had  no  children.  Jane  married 
Ibomas  Kerns.  They  lived  three  miles  northeast  of  the 
church,  where  he  operated  a  farm  successfully  and  raised 
ci  large  family.  Mr.  Xerns  was  a  strong  man  mentally. 
He  was  a  fair  scholar,  taught  school,  and  was  well  in- 
formed on  the  topics  of  his  time. 

William  Kerns  was  in  active  life  at  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century.  He  lived  two  miles  northeast  of  Hope- 
well church.  He  was  twice  married;  his  first  wife  was  a 
Widow  Houston,  and  was  the  mother  of  Thomas  and 
Harper.  Jennie  McClure,  daughter  of  Mathew  McClure, 
the  signer  of  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence- first  married  —  Houston,  by  whom  she  had  one 
son  and  one  daughter.  She  afterwards  married  William 
Kerns,  to  whom  she  bore  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Harper. 
His  second  wife  was  Sibby,  daughter  of  Colonel  Falls,  of 
Re\^olutionary  fame.  She  had  no  children.  Harper,  son 
of  William  Kerns,  lived  near  his  father's  homestead.  He 
married  (first  wife)  Clarissa,  daughter  of  Blind  Billy  Alex- 
ander. They  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  viz: 
Robert,  William,  Dixon,  Jennie  and  Sarah.  Robert  mar- 
ried Miss  McConnel  from  Iredell  county;  raised  a  large 
family.  Willian-w  married  Martha  McKnight,  daughter 
of  Hugh  McKnight.  They  moved  west,  where  William 
died,  and  his  widow  returned  and  is  now  living  in  Char- 
lotte. Dixon  Kerns,  the  youngest  of  first  wife's  sons, 
married  the  widow  of  James  McKnitt  Alexander.     They 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  59 

now  live  in  South  Iredell.  Jennie  married  William  Wal- 
lace, a  fine  looking  cavalier  as  ever  drew  blade  in  defence 
of  his  country.  He  was  killed  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight 
near  the  Potomac,  where  only  cavalry  were  engaged.  His 
childless  widow  resides  three  miles  west  of  Hopewell 
church.  Sarah  married  Edward  Sloan,  of  Cabarrus 
county.  He  enlisted  in  a  cavalry  regiment  with  his 
brother-in-law,  William  Wallace,  and  like  him,  gave  his 
life  for  his  country.  Harper  Kerns'  second  wife  was  Mar- 
garet McKnight.  They  reared  quite  a  large  family,  who 
are  all  located  within  easy  reach  of  the  church  of  their 
fathers  The  Kerns  family  were  all  law-abiding  citizens, 
held  in  good  repute  in  the  neighborhood. 


CHAPTER  XHI. 

PEOPLES  FAMILY. 

John  Peoples  was  born  in  the  Shanandoah  Valley,  Va., 
in  1765.  He  was  of  Irish  parentage.  He  came  to  North 
Carolina  while  quite  young.  He  married  Hannah  Stinson 
in  1788.  They  lived  near  Long  Creek  mill,  owned  and 
worked  a  farm,  where  they  reared  a  family  of  children,  viz: 
Richard,  Silas,  John,  James,  W'illiam  and  Elizabeth.  Rich- 
ard married  Jane  Harris  in  1816.  and  lived  in  the  Provi- 
dence section.  They  raised  a  large  family,  viz:  Hugh  Har- 
ris. John  Brown,  Isabella  Hannah,  Leroy  Ezekiel,  Ellenor, 
Mathcw  Henry,  Elizabeth  Jane,  Rev.  James  H.,  Isaac 
Nowton,  Richard  Ramsay.  Silas  Peoples  married  a  Miss 
Hunter  in  1834.  They  lived  south  of  Hopewell,  where 
they  raised  a  family. 


GO  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

GEORGE  DAVIS. 

George  Davis  was  an  important  character  in  conduct- 
ing the  music  (in  that  day  it  was  cahed  the  singing)  in 
Hopeweh  church  sixty  years  ago,  and  even  of  a  more 
recent  date.     Mr.  Davis  was  chief  musician,  that  is,  he 
was  leader  of  the  singing,  and  was  called  clerk,  or  dark. 
Young  men  who  wanted  to  learn  to  lead  the  singing  had 
to  stand  by  Mr.  Davis  and  follow  his  lead.     The  pulpit 
was  an  elegantly  painted  structure,  about  the  shape  and 
size  of  a  large  sugar  hogshead,  set  on  a  beautifully  mar- 
ble-painted post,  8  feet  high.     A  nice  little  pair  of  stairs 
led  up  to  the  pulpit,  which  had  a  shutter  to  the  door 
which,  when  closed,  prevented  the  people  from  seeing  the 
minister.     On  the  floor  near  the  pulpit  was  the  dark's 
stand.     It  was  a  half  round,  resemblirg  one-half  of  a  bar- 
rel cut  in  two,  longitudinally,  big  enough  to  accommo- 
date three  singers  at  one  time,  and  about  four  and  a  half 
feet  high.     Mr.  Davis  always  looked  in  a  good  humor 
w^'th  himself  when  entering  his  stand  to  raise  the  tunes; 
and  the  congregation  always  felt  sure  there  would  be  no 
iailure  in  the  singing  part  of  the  worship.  On  communion 
occasions  it  was  always  expected  the  singing  would  be  of 
a     high     order.     Pisgah    and    Ortonville    were    favorite 
tunes,  the  lines  being  parceled  out  by  the  minister,  or  an 
assistant  dark;  this  was  deemed  necessary  when  the  house 
was  packed,  and  not  enough  hymn  books  to  go  around. 
In  addition  to  this  there  was  a  large  congregation  of  ne- 
groes who  attended  on  Sacramental  occasions,  as  if  a  gen- 
eral holiday.    The  galleries  would  be  packed,  and  but  few 
of  them  able  to  read,  it  was  a  necessity  to  parcel  out  the 
lines  that  they  could  take  part  in  the  worship.    And  such 
singing!  With  their  melodious  voices,  and  their  religious 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  61 

emotions  stirred  to  the  utmost  tension,  they  poured  forth 
son^  in  such  strains  of  real  music  that  it  would  have  done 
credit  to  any  religious  assembly.  This  was  music,  indeed, 
that  enthused  every  worshipper  with  a  feeling  of  awe,  that 
high  art  can  never  do. 

Mr.  George  Davis  married  a  daughter  of  David  Vance, 
They  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter.  This  family  has 
drifted  away  to  parts  unknown.  Notwithstanding  Mr. 
Davis  was  so  highly  honored  as  to  lead  the  music  in 
Hopewell  church  for  so  many  years,  you  will  scarcely  find 
a  member  under  fifty  years  old  who  ever  heard  of  George 
Davis.  How  soon  our  names  are  forgotten!  But  thank 
God,  it  is  in  our  province,  if  we  are  true  to  ourselves,  to 
be  in  everlasting  remembrance  on  the  other  shore. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

ELLIOT  FAMILY. 

Andrew  Elliot  lived  two  miles  south  of  the  clun-cli.  He 
and  his  family  were  constant  attendants  at  Hopewell.  He 
had  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz:  George,  Andrew 
and  William,  Catherine,  Mary,  Ann  and  Betsy.  These 
were  good,  law-abiding  citizens,  respected  by  all  tlicir 
neighbors  and  associates;  and  how  they  lived  to  middle 
life  and  some  to  old  age,  and  none  of  the  seven  ever  mar- 
ried, has  always  been  a  wonder  in  the  boundary  of  Hope- 
well. The  only  solution  of  the  anamoly  is,  they  were  not 
a  marrying  family. 


62  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

BLYTHE  FAMILY. 

Samuel  Blythe  was  of  Scotch-Irish  stock.  He  came 
from  the  north  of  Ireland  in  1740,  and  located  fifteen 
miles  north  of  Charlotte,  on  the  Beattie's  Ford  road.  But 
little  of  his  family  history  has  been  preserved.  It  is  not 
known  by  his  descendants  who  his  wife  was,  or  where  he 
found  her.  It  is  known,  however,  that  a  family  of  chil- 
dren was  raised,  and  -that  only  one  of  the  number,  a  son 
named  Richard,  remained  at  the  homestead.  He  married 
a  Miss  Patton,  reared  a  family  of  children,  and  like  their 
predecessors,  all  moved  away  to  the  southwest  except 
one  son.  Samuel  Blythe,  who  occupied  the  homestead,  he 
alone  of  all  the  kindred  remaining  to  preserve  a  place 
and  perpetuate  a  name.  He  married  Isabella  Nantz  in 
1820.  He  was  born  in  1790  and  died  1866.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  several  years.  They  were  buried  in  Hopewell 
graveyard,  at  which  church  they  had  worshipped  for  more 
than  half  a  century.  Their  seven  children  consisted  of  four 
sons  and  three  daughters,  viz:  Franklin,  Clement,  John, 
James,  Nancy,  Rebecca  and  Ellen.  Franklin  married  Vio- 
let McCoy,  and  built  a  home  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
homestead.  They  raised  a  large  family  of  children;  all  but 
two  of  -whom  are  married  and  have  families.  Clement  mar- 
ried Mary,  daughter  of  Milas  Sample.  They  live  four 
miles  east  of  the  church.  They  have  four  boys,  nearly 
grown.  John  Blythe  married  Dovy  McCoy,  built  a  home 
neir  Long  Creek  mill,  where  they  raised  one  daughter  and 
seven  sons.  James  Blythe  never  married,  but  makes  him- 
self useful  amongst  his  near  kinsfolk.  If  he  had  cultivated 
his  voice  he  would  have  been  looked  upon  as  a  musical 
prodigy.    But  not  having  aspiration  for  notoriety  he  was, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  (io 

and  is,  regarded  only  as  a  pretty  good  leader  of  churcb 
music.  Rebecca  married  Robert  Fulwood,  a  courteous 
Christian  gentleman,  who  died  while  a  young  man,  leav- 
ing his  widow  and  five  children.  They  have  married  off 
avid  are  in  comfortable  circumstances.  Nancy  married 
John  Abernethy  in  Paw  Creek.  They  reared  a  nice  family. 
Ellen  married  Ben  V.  Beal.  They  live  in  Lincoln  county. 
The  Blythe  family  were  good  people,  without  aspiration 
for  honors  or  wealth.  They  were  much  esteemed  for  their 
integrity  and  great  kindness  of  heart. 


CHAPTER  XVIT. 

THE  TORRANCE  FAMILY. 

Hugh  Torrance  came  from  Ireland  in  the  last  quarter 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  probably  about  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War.  He  first  located  in  Iredell  county, 
and  afterwards  built  an  elegant  home  in  Mecklenburg, 
four  miles  north  of  Ho])ewell  church.  He  married  Isabella, 
the  widow  of  Colonel  Falls,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Ramsaur's  mills.  They  raised  but  one  child,  James 
Torrance. 

Hugh  Torrance  and  wife,  Isabella,  both  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1816,  aged  respectively  73  and  76  years  Their  ashes 
lie  buried  in  Hopewell  churchyard,  where  they  worshiped 
through  a  long  life.  Mr.  James  Torrance  inherited  his 
father's  elegant  home,  and  under  his  management  the 
estate  increased  in  value.  Mr.  Torrance  first  married 
Nancy  Davidson,  of  Iredell  county.  They  raised  four  chil- 
dren, viz:  Hugh,  Frank,  Cammilla  and  Isabella.  These 
ci]l  left  the  PTopewcll  l)0undary  on  attaining  their  major- 


64  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

ity.     Mrs.  Torrance  died  November   19,   181 8,  aged  26 
years.     Mr.  Torrance  married  second  wife,  Mary  (Polly) 
Latta,  born  1799.     Had  two  children,  viz:  Dr.  William 
Torrance.     He  never  married,  and  died  in  1852,  aged  30 
years.     Jane  married  Dr.  W.  S.  M.  Davidson.     She  had 
but  one  child,  and  died  at  the  age  of  21  years.    Her  child, 
James  Torrance  Davidson,  died  soon  after  reaching  his 
majority.    Thus  leaving  Polly  Latta  without  living  issue. 
She  died  in  1821,  leaving  her  husband  a  widower  for  the 
second  time.     Mr.  Torrance  married  Margaret  Allison, 
of  Iredell  county,  his  third  wife.    They  raised  a  family  of 
six   children,    viz:    Letitia,    who  married  Dr.  Bratton,  of 
South  Carolina.    Mary  married  Dr.  Witherspoon,  of  Ala- 
bama.    DeHa  married  John  Johnston,  of  Lincoln  county. 
Saily  married  Dr.  Gaston,  of  Montgomery,  Ala.  Richard 
R.  Torrance,  after    graduating   at    Chapel  Hill,    married 
a  daughter  of  Rufus  Reid,  and  moved  to  Texas.    His  wife 
lived  but  a  short  time,  and  he  returned  with  two  Httle 
daughters.     He  entered  the  Confederate  Army  in  the  8th 
Texas  cavalry,  was  desperately  wounded  at  Strawberry 
Plains,  losing  a  leg  near  the  hip  joint.     He  after  the  war 
married  Miss  Eliza  Gaston,  of  South  Carolina.     He  now 
disposed  of  his  property  in  Texas  and  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Hopewell,  where  he  continued    for    many    years    and 
raised  a  large  family.     He  now  resides  in  Charlotte 

John  A.  Torrance,  the  youngest  son,  has  spent  his  life 
at  the  old  homestead.,  except  four  years  of  service  in  the 
Confederate  cause.  He  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  7th  North 
Carolina  Regiment.  He  has  never  taken  a  wife,  but  lives 
quietly  in  the  elegant  mansion  erected  by  his  grandfather, 
Hugh  Torrance. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  65 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

WIN  SLOW  FAMILY. 

It  is  surprisingly  strange  how  quickly  the  knowledge 
oi  a  family,  and  that  of  an  important  one,  too,  may  be  lost 
or  so  befogged  with  doubt  and  uncertainty  as  to  be  but 
little  known,  and  that  Httle  only  through  tradition. 

Closes  Winslow  was  probably  born  in  Iredell  county. 
He  married  Jean,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Osborne,  and 
sister  of  Adlai  Osborne.  Alexander  Osborne  was  buried 
in  Centre  graveyard,  dates  on  headstone  cannot  now  be 
read.  *  Adlai  Osborne,  died  1814-  aged  71  years;  Marga- 
ret Osborne,  died  1830,  aged  75  years;  John  Brevard, 
born  1730,  died  1790;  Jane  Brevard,  born  1730.  died 
1800. 

They  had  four  daughters,  viz:  Mary,  married  Samuel 
Wilson,  Sr. ;  Dovy,  married  Dr.  Joseph  McKnitt  Alex- 
ander; Rocinda,  married  William  Wilson;  —  mar- 
ried Samuel  King,  of  Cabarrus  county.  Moses  Winslow 
died  181 5,  aged  83  years.  Jean  Osborne  Winslow  died 
1795,  aged  53  years.  Moses  Winslow  had  no  son  to  per- 
petuate his  name.  His  daughters  married  into  the  most 
refined  and  educated  families,  and  were  blessed  with  a 
numerous  posterity,  but  the  name  of  Winslow  has  disap- 
peared from  the  rolls. 


*  This  information  was  taken  from  Centre  graveyard  by  Col.  W. 
It-  David.son,  .\pril  6,  1896, 


G6  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

SAMUEL  WILSON  FAMILY. 

Samuel  Wilson,  Sr.,  was  married  three  times,  raising 
three  sets  of  children.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  Winslow, 
a  daughter  of  Moses  and  Jean  Osborne  Winslow.  They 
lived  four  miles  northwest  of  Hopewell  church,  near  the 
Catawba  river.  They  had  six  children,  viz:  David,  Benja- 
min, Samuel,  Mary,  Violet  and  Sally. 

It  is  not  known  wJio  David  married,  but  they  had  two 
sons,  Lawson  and  Winslow. 

Benjamin      never     married.      Samuel     married     

They  had  one  son  and  two  daughters,  viz:  Jeff,  Polly  and 
Patsy.  Late  in  life  JefT  married  a  Prim,  and  left  no  child- 
ren. Polly  married  a  Rosell,  of  whom  nothing  is  known. 
Patsy  married  Hugh  McKnight.  Violet  married  Major 
John  Davidson,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  whose  family 
has  been  given  place  in  a  former  chapter.  Mary  married 
Ezekiel  Polk,  who  lived  south  of  Charlotte.  Sally  mar- 
ried —  —  McConnel,  of  whom  nothing  is  now  known. 

The  second  wife  of  Samuel  Wilson,  Sr.,  was  the  widow 
Howard,  whoever  she  may  have  been.  By  this  marriage 
there  was  one  daughter,  Margaret,  who  married  George 
Davidson,  and  they  had  three  children,  viz:  Wilson  David- 
so.i.  J  H.  Davidson  (called  Jacky),  who  married  Patsy 
Davidson,  a  sketch  of  whom  was  given  in  a  former  chap- 
ter, and  a  daughter  who  married  a  Crawford  and  moved 
to  Alabama. 

Samuel  Wilson.  Sr.'s.  third  wife  was  Margaret  Jack,  a 
sister  of  Patrick  Jack,  who  carried  the  Mecklenburg 
Declaration  of  Independence  of  May  20,  1775,  to  Phila- 
delphia. They  reared  three  children,  viz:  William,  Robert 
and  LilHe.     William  Wilson  married  Rocinda  Winslow. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  G? 

Their  children  were  Dovy,  James,  Robert  and  Lafayette. 
Dovy  married  James  Dougherty.  Robert  married  Mar- 
garet Alexander,  daughter  of  Major  Thomas  Alexander. 
Thoy  lived  three  miles  north  of  Hopewell  church, 
and  raised  a  large  family  of  girls  and  one  son,  all  of  whom 
have  long  since  passed  away,  and  not  one  is  left  to  per- 
petuate the  name  of  Wilson,  which  held  such  prominence 
in  this  settlement  for  more  than  lOO  years.  James  and 
Lafayette  moved  to  Alabama  in  the  early  settlement  of 
that  State,  and  are  lost  to  the  local  historian.  The  home 
of  Robert  Wilson  was  probably  better  known  to  fashion- 
able people  fifty  years  ago  than  any  other  place  in  Meck- 
lenburg county.  The  family  was  educated,  refined, 
wealthy,  and  their  hospitality  was  held  as  a  princely  vir- 
tu"".  Their  daughters  were  fond  of  music  and  dancing, 
inheriting  this  propensity  from  both  ancestors.  Major 
Tommie  Alexander  was  a  skillful  player  on  the  violin. 
Even  after  having  passed  his  four-score  mile  post  it  af- 
forded him  pleasure  to  play  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
young.  They  reared  five  daughters  and  one  son,  viz: 
Do'^y,  married  John  W.  Logan.  Margaret  and  Angelina 
never  married.  Arabella  married  Judge  George  Logan. 
Cynthia  married  Wade  Hampton.  Thomas  A.  Wilson, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  married  Sally  Jones.  He  was 
a  most  excellent  man.  He  died  in  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try in  February  1862.  A  daughter  of  Mrs.  Hampton,  who 
married  Abner  Alexander,  lives  between  Hopewell  and 
the  old  homestead,  and  is  a  fit  representative  of  the  high- 
grade  people  who  held  such  high  position  in  this  section 
more  than  one  hundred  years  ago.  The  old  homestead, 
around  which  clusters  so  many  fond  memories  of  a  civili- 
zation that  has  passed,  much  of  it  into  oblivion,  but 
enough  has  been  recorded  in  history  to  preserve  the  truth 
that  the  grand  race  of  men  who  governed  for  the  first 
seventy-five  vears  of  our  political  historv.  wore  indeed 
nnd  in  trulh.  lenders  of  men.  The  old  homestead  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  Robert  Hampton,  a  linonl  descendant 


68  BiOaEAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

of  Samuel  Wilson,  Sr.,  who  was  of  noble  birth,  and  whose 
wife  was  a  sister  of  Patrick  Jack,  a  noted  patriot  of  1775. 

Tt  is  not  only  strange,  but  sad,  to  know  that  of  such  an 
influential  family  as  the  Wilsons  should  cease  to  have  a 
rcj^resentative  to  perpetuate  the  name.  Scarcely  a  cen- 
tury has  passed  till  the  name  of  an  honored  family  is 
dropped  from  the  roll. 

Lillie  Wilson,  daughter  of  Sam  Wilson,  Sr.,  and  Mar- 
garet Jack,  married  James  Connor.  They  lived  a  short 
distance  above  Beattie's  Ford,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Ca- 
tawba river,  in  what  was  known  as  the  "red  house." 
Their  children  were  Henry  Workman,  James  and  Marga- 
ret. Workman  located  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  where  he 
became  very  wealthy^  He  had  one  son  in  the  Confed- 
erate States  Army.  Gen.  James  Connor,  who  won  con- 
siderable fame  for  skill  and  bravery.  He  is  now  a  practic- 
ing" attorney  in  Charleston.  Margaret,  or  Peggy,  as  she 
v/as  called,  married  Franklin  Brevard.  They  lived  in 
South  Iredell.  They  operated  a  large  farm,  and  became 
very  wealthy.  They  had  one  daughter,  Rebecca,  who 
married  Robert  I.  McDowell.  They  had  three  daughters 
and  two  sons.  Several  years  after  the  war  the  family 
moved  to  Charlotte.  William,  the  oldest  son,  was  killed 
in  battle  while  a  youth.  The  same  patriotic  spirit  that 
prompted  a  heroic  ancestry  to  deeds  of  daring  proved  the 
ruling  element  in  a  worthy  posterity.  The  daughters 
married  men  worthy  of  their  family,  and  F.  B.  McDowell, 
the  second  son,  is  one  of  our  most  prominent  and  useful 
citizens.  Served  two  terms  as  mayor  of  Charlotte,  and 
inaugurated  needed  reforms  for  which  our  people  are 
grateful.  Mr.  R.  I.  McDowell  passed  away  several  years 
ago,  and  was  buried  in  Elmwood  cemetery.  Mrs. 
ATcDowell.  never  having  been  strong,  still  survives  and 
enioys  life,  surrounded  with  hosts  of  friends. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  literary  families  of  our  county. 
Mrs.  F.  B.  McDowell,  who  belonged  to  one  of  the  most 
literary  families  of  New  Orleans,  inheriting  both   taste 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  69 

and  intellectuality,  is  regarded  as  a  line  critic  and  a  bril- 
liant conversationalist,  two  rare  accomplishments. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

CATHY  FAMILY. 

During  the   Revolutionary   War  John   Cathy   lived  a 
short  distance  south  of  Beattie's  Ford.     His  farm  was 
visited  by  Tarlton's  troopers  the  evening  after  the  battle 
at  Cowan's  Ford,  and  everything  eatable  was  carried  off, 
as  the  army  passed  on  towards  Salisbury,     He  left  his 
farm  to  his  son,  Col.  Archibald  Cathy,  who  spent  all  of  his 
life  on  the  homestead.    He  married  a  Miss  Caldwell,  from 
Iredell  county.     They  raised  five  sons  and  one  daughter, 
viz:   Pink,   William,  Andrew,  John,   Henry   and   Nancy. 
ColonefCathy  died  before  his  children  were  grown,  and 
his  widow  married  Tom  Dex\rmond.     He  was  not  con- 
sidered the  equal  of  the  family  into  which  he  married. 
They  had  l)ut  one  son,  Joe.     The  older  Cathy  children 
soon  married  off  and  took  the  young  ones  to  live  with 
thern-  home  relations  not  being  pleasant.     This  marriage 
was  not  a  success,  according  to  the  neighborhood's  idea 
of  happiness.     Pink  Cathy  married  a  Torrance,  daughter 
of  Barny  Torrance,  and  moved  to  Arkansas.     Andrew 
married   Betsy    Miller,   and   in   company   with   Joe   Mc- 
Knitt  Alexander,  who  married  Nancy  Cathy,  moved  to 
Alabama  in  1835.    Andrew  Cathy  had  l)nt  one  child.  Re- 
becca, when  he  died.     Rebecca  was  educated  in  Salem, 
N.  C,  and  married  her  cousin.  John  D.  Alexander,  son 
of  Toe  McK.  Alexander.     The  Alexander's  became  very 


70  BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

wealthy.  After  many  years  Nancy  Alexander  died,  and 
her  husband  married  Betsy  Cathy.  All  have  passed  away 
except  John  D.  Alexander,  who  recently  took  a  second 
wife.  Henry  Cathy  married  Rebecca  Johnston,  of  Iredell 
county,  by  whom  three  children  were  raised,  viz:  Caro- 
line, Rebecca  and  John  Archie.  After  the  decease  of  Mrs. 
Cathy,  Henry  married  Viney  Cornelius,  of  Iredell  county. 
She  was  a  woman  of  great  industry,  really  loved  to  work. 
She  is  now  a  widow,  her  children  all  married,  but  still 
occupies  the  old  homestead. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

PERSONAL  DIFFICULTIES. 

To  write  only  of  battles  and  seiges,  and  of  great  leaders 
of  men,  and  of  great  events  that  happen  only  once  in  a 
century,  may  be  a  pleasant  past  time  to  the  writer  and 
furnish  enjoyable  reading  to  those  who  are  not  particular 
as  to  the  great  facts  that  underlie  our  civilization,  but  it 
is  unworthy  of  the  purpose  intended  to  be  accomplished 
by  writing  history.  History,  to  be  true  and  express  facts 
as  they  exist,  must  reach  down  among  the  great  common 
people,  who  produce  the  wealth,  pay  the  taxes,  and  fight 
the  battles  of  their  country,  as  well  as  to  eulogize  the  for- 
tunate few  who  ride  upon  the  flood  tide  that  led  them  on 
to  fortune.  Notwithstanding  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Hopewell  section  were  noted  for  their  piety  and  morals, 
their  love  of  freedom  and  fair  play,  they  sometimes  found 
it  necessary  to  protect  their  honor  and  self-respect  by 
personal  combat.  These  personal  encounters  generally 
occurred  on  public  occasions,  such  as  elections,  musters 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  71 

or  sales;  sometimes  at  public  places,  as  the  court  house, 
or  blacksmith  shop.  1  he  blacksmith  shop  was  a  noted 
adjunct  to  the  civilization  of  seventy-tive  years  ago. 
These  shops  were  patronized  by  all  classes.  The  rich  and 
the  educated  would  frequently  spend  a  few  hours  chat- 
tine^  with  their  neighbors,  hearing  and  telling  the  news. 
Newspapers  were  not  so  plentiful  then  as  now,  and  the 
price  was  considerably  more.  So  at  these  public  resorts 
people  would  kill  two  birds  with  one  stone,  i.  e.,  get  their 
si:Uthing  done  and  hear  the  news. 

About  seventy  years  ago  there  was  a  family 
li^•ing  on  the  eastern  boundary  of  Hopewell,  where 
ihe  town  of  Huntersville  now  stands,  by  the  name 
of  Maxwell,  several  of  whom  were  deaf  mutes,  but 
all  were  young  and  strong.  One  of  the  boys,  Joe 
]\Iaxwell,  was  an  athlete,  and  unfortunately  of  an 
overbearing  disposition  and  extremely  quarrelsome,  mak- 
ing him  a  terror  to  the  neighborhood.  He  had  been  en- 
gaged in  many  fights,  and  had  always  whipped  his  man. 
until  he  became  intolerably  insolent.  At  an  election  held 
at  Maxwell  precinct,  Joe  tried  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  Joe 
Alexander,  a  very  peacable,  quiet  man,  who  refused  to 
fight  him;  Maxwell  cursed  him  for  a  coward.  At  this 
juncture  Mr.  D.  A.  Caldwell,  a  high-toned  gentleman, 
and  one  who  did  not  know  what  fear  was,  interfered  by 
telling  Maxwell  that  Joe  Alexander  was  his  cousin  and 
his  friend,  and  that  if  he  was  spoiling  for  a  fight  he  would 
accommodate  him.  Maxwell  was  almost  beside  himself 
with  rage,  but  thought  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor, 
and  said:  "Alex.,  I  have  no  quarrel  with  you.  but  will 
fight  Joe  Alexander."  Mr.  Caldwell  replied:  "If  you  offer 
another  insult  to  my  friend  I  will  whip  you  in  an  inch  of 
yo'.ir  life."  Maxwell  was  cowed  for  the  first  time  in  his 
life;  he  had  met  his  master  and  recognized  him.  Rut  his 
vindictive  character  could  not  rest  until  he  would  whip 
some  one.  so  he  pounced  upon  John  Montcith.  a  very 
clever  man  and  a  most  excellent  blacksmith.     Although 


72  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Monleith  was  a  vigorous  man,  and  as  strong  ^nd  muscu- 
lar as  blacksmiths  usually  are,  he  was  no  match  for  Max- 
well. This  was  seen  from  the  onset,  and  Monteith  soon 
called  to  his  friends  for  help.  As  they  were  parted  Max- 
well said  to  him,  "as  soon  as  you  get  well  from  this  beat- 
ing I  will  give  you  another  worse  than  this."  The  poor 
mkn  was  not  only  badly  punished,  but  badly  frightened, 
but  did  not  have  the  courage  to  shoot  him  down  as  if  he 
were  a  mad  dog.  He  watched  for  his  enemy  with  much 
fear  and  anxiety,  knowing  he  would  have  to  fight  a  man 
of  twice  his  strength,  and  one  who  boasted  of  his  prowess, 
and  was  as  unscrupulous  as  he  was  strong. 

Three  weeks  after  his  first  encounter  'Squire 
Robert  D.  Alexander  came  to  the  shop  to  have 
his  horse  shod,  to  whom  Monteith  detailed  his 
grievances.  'Squire  Alexander  (father  of  the  author) 
was  an  important  character  in  the  neighborhood 
as  a  magistrate,  and  in  this  capacity  was  often 
callea  on  to  settle  difficulties  between  neighbors,  and  kept 
many  suits  from  being  carried  to  court.  And  there  is  no 
doubt  Monteith  hoped  he  would  cool  Maxwell's  ardor  by 
magisterial  authority,  and  save  him  from  the  threatened 
beating  he  knew  was  near  at  hand.  While  they  were  talk- 
ing Monteith  looked  in  the  direction  of  MaxweU's  house. 
The  shop  was  not  more  than  300  yards  distant,  when  he 
saw  his  enemy  coming.  Instantly  he  dropped  the  horse 
shoe  and  put  his  ax  tongs  in  the  furnace  and  said  to  the 
'Squire,  'T  see  that  devil  coming;  I  reckon  he  will  kill  me 
this  time."  He  was  working  his  bellows  vigorously,  as  if 
making  a  welding  heat,  and  was  very  nervous  and  excited 
as  Maxwell  entered  the  shop,  rolling  up  his  sleeves  as 
he  gloated  over  his  intended  victim,  said,  "John,  I  prom- 
ised you  another  beating,  and  am  now  going  to  give  it  to 
}  ou."  Just  as  Joe  was  ready  to  strike,  John  drew  his  red- 
hot  ax  tongs  from  the  furnace  and  grabbed  this  human 
monster  by  the  throat,  with  the  determination  born  of 
fear,  to  defend    himself    in    the    unequal    struggle.     Joe 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  73 

grasped  the  red-hot  tongs  near  the  jaws,  and  as  he  jerked 
them  troni  his  throat  his  hands  were  badly  bhsterecl  and 
his  throat  perfectly  raw  and  bleeding,  his  whole  being  ni 
an  ai>ony  of  pain.  This  was  the  most  desperate  fight  ever 
witnessed  in  the  Hopewell  territory.  'Squire  Alexander 
was  the  only  witness.  He  decided  in  favor  of  Monteith, 
'That  the  use  of  ax  tongs  heated  in  a  furnace,  were  justi- 
fial^le  under  the  circumstances;  and  IMaxwell  warned  not 
to  attack  Monteith  in  the  future.    All  costs  remitted." 


CHAPTER  XXH. 

HOPEWELL  GRAVEYARD. 

Some  one  has  said  "Those  who  live  upon  earth  are  but 
a  handful  to  those  who  sleep  in  her  bosom."  When  this 
sacred  spot  was  first  used  as  a  resting  place  for  the  dead 
is  not  accurately  known;  certainly  not  before  the  first 
church  building  was  erected  in  1765.  There  is  no  grave- 
stone bearing  an  ea-rlier  mark  than  1775.  Many  secrets 
connected  with  the  memorable  epoch  of  the  American 
Revolution,  held  both  by  Whigs  and  Tories,  holding 
(ioadly  enmity  towards  each  other,  of  i)rime  importance 
were  unfortunately  retained,  locked  in  silence  by  those 
who  sleep  in  this  quiet  place,  that  if  known  today  would 
settle  many  questions  now  in  doubt. 

The  most  numerously  represented  family  met  with 
is  the  Alexanders.  Here  is  seen  the  commemo- 
rative slab  that  covers  the  dust  of  John  McKmtt 
Alexander  and  wife,  their  two  sons.  William  P.ain 
and  Joseph  McKnitt,  and  one  of  their  sisters.  Mrs. 
Rev.     C.     S.     Caldwell,     with     a     mullitudc     cf     their 


74:  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

children  and  their  children's  children,  reaching  well  into 
the  fourth  generation.  The  most  conspicuous  name  in 
the  fourth  generation  of  this  conspicuous  family  is  that  of 
Capt.  Francis  Ramsay  Alexander,  son  of  John  R.  Alexan- 
der. Like  many  others-  he  doffed  the  student's  gown  for 
the  warrior's  sword;  abandoning  the  pleasant  literary 
walks  of  college  life  to  obey  the  calls  of  patriotism.  Just 
as  he  reached  mature  manhood,  while  lighting  his  coun- 
tr}.'s  battle  in  behalf  of  the  State's  rights,  he  was  mortally 
wounded  on  the  17th  of  June  1864,  in  the  terrific  battle 
of  that  date  near  Petersburg,  and  died  on  the  19th.  His 
body  was  brought  home  for  burial.  The  funeral  was  at- 
tended by  the  largest  concourse  of  women  and  children 
that  ever  assembled  here  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of 
any  one  ever  laid  to  rest  in  this  historic  spot.  It  was  not 
that  he  was  such  a  devoted  child  of  the  church,  a  special 
favorite  of  the  neighborhood,  or  the  great  popularity  of 
his  family;  the  funeral  honors  accorded  him  were  due  to 
his  heroism  in  battle,  and  mutual  love  existing  between 
him  and  his  men;  yet  he  was  a  Christain,  a  general  favo- 
rite with  his  neighbors,  and  born  of  a  most  influential 
family.  Privates  never  make  a  mistake  as  to  the  worth 
of  their  captain.  Hence  at  each  annual  reunion  of  Com- 
pany "K"  of  the  56th  North  Carolina  Regiment,  Captain 
Alexander's  name  is  called  with  profound  respect,  and  his 
leadership,  which  made  him  a  hero,  is  spoken  of  with  ad- 
miration. 

John  McKnitt  Alexander  and  his  great-grand- 
son, Capt.  Frank.  R.  Alexander,  prompted  by  the  same 
patriotic  impulse,  the  former  to  achieve  independence 
a:  id  the  latter  to  maintain  it,  have  their  ashes  quietly 
resting  together  in  this  densely  crowded  city  of  the  dead, 
awaiting  the  glad  summons  of  the  resurrection  morn, 
when  all  strife  shall  have  ceased,  and  where  tyranny  and 
oppression  are  unknown. 

Near    by    is     the    grave    of    General     William     Lee 
Davidson,     with     a     bench     of     brick      over      it,      just 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  «5 

as  it  vvas  built  more  than  lOO  )ears  ago.  No  shaft  of 
granite  or  marble  slab  has  ever  been  erected  to  mark  the 
spot,  and  tell  to  future  generations,  "here  lies  the  dust  of 
a  patriot  who  gave  his  life  for  his  country's  freedom,"  The 
wife  of  William  Lee  Davidson,  son  of  the  General,  is 
buried  by  the  "bench  of  brick,"  and  has  a  handsome  mar- 
ble slab  which  says  whose  wife  she  was,  and  that  she  died 
in  1842,  but  does  not  iell  she  was  a  daughter  of  Major 
John  Davidson,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and  was  known 
as  "Aunt  Betsy  Lee,"  a  most  excellent  woman. 

Near  the  entrance  is  the  tomb  of  Rev.  John  Williamson 
and  wife,  probably  the  only  preacher  ever  buried  in  this 
enclosure.  The  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Caldwell,  the  first 
pastor,  is  buried  here  by  the  side  of  her  patriot  father, 
Jolm  iMcKnitt  Aleander.  So  also  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Wal- 
ter Smily  Pharr,  mother  of  Rev.  C.  S.  Pharr,  D.  D.,  and 
daugiiter  of  Mrs.  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Caldwell.  I)uric(l 
in  the  midst  of  her  own  kindred. 

One  of  the  most  noted  of  those  who  were  buried  here 
in  the  last  quarter  of  the  i8th  century  was  Francis  Bradly, 
a  patriot  of  the  Revolution.  He  had  taken  a  most  active 
part  in  the  skirmish  at  Mclntire's  branch,  and  for  this  love 
of  liberty  he  was  brutally  murdered  by  Tories,  November 
i-^.  1780.  His  wife.  Abigail  Bradly,  died  September  23, 
J  817,  aged  69  years,  and  rests  by  the  side  of  her  husband. 

What  a  peaceful  and  pleasant  change  it  must  be  to  be 
carried  from  fields  of  strife  to  the  green  pastures  ever 
found  1;y  the  River  of  Life  in  that  world  where  tlic  weary 
are  at  rest  and  Love  reigns  supreme.  It  is  with  a  feeling 
of  awe  and  reverence  that  we  pass  among  those  who  have 
no!jly  performed  their  duty  while  living,  and  have  been 
called  to  take  up  their  abode  in  this  silent  enclosure,  and 
read  their  names  and  learn  what  is  possible  of  their  char- 
acters, feeling  sure  that  we  will  soon  be  summoned  to 
dwell  in  the  silent  tomb  where  history  ceases,  and  we  pass 
into  the  new  life  where,  yesterday,  today  an<l  tonicrrow 
ever  remain  present. 


7G  BIOGBAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Here  we  read  the  names  of  the  Torrance  family, 
of  the  Latta's,  Monteith's,  Kerns,  Todd's,  McCoy's 
and  many  others  who  were  weh  known;  and  also 
see  names  that  are  entirely  forgotten,  viz:  William  Gra- 
ham, aged  72  years,  died  1818.  Reuben  Ross,  aged  23 
years,  died  July  4,  1824.  Capt.  John  Long,  aged  51 
}'ears,  died  1799,  and  Peggy  Long,  his  wife,  aged  30 
years,  died  July  19,  1799.  Who  were  these  people,  and 
what  part  did  they  act  in  life's  great  drama?  or  were  they 
visitors  passing  through  the  country  and  were  drafted  by 
the  pale  recruiting  officer  before  they  reached  their  desti- 
nation? No  one  can  now  tell  their  story.  But  stranger 
still,  some  people  appear  to  invite  oblivion  by  not  mark- 
ing the  spot  or  sepulclire,  or  chiseling  their  names  upon 
stone.  The  Wilsons,  a  wealthy,  educated  and  influential 
family,  closely  connected  with  the  Davidsons,  Alexan- 
ders, Grahams,  Osbornes,  and  Brevards,  have  left  no  sign 
or  mark  to  prove  they  found  a  resting  place  by  the  side 
of  their  honored  compeers. 

So  it  is  with  the  Kerns  family,  and  hundreds  of  others 
who  took  an  active  part  in  life,  and  were  good  and  useful 
citizens,  give  no  sign  to  those  who  would  gather  up  frag- 
ments to  preserve  our  country's  history,  or  even  to  say 
they  found  a  grave  on  their  native  heath.  And  yet  there 
are  some  names  cut  in  bold  letters,  unknown  to  the  den- 
izens of  today,  whose  history  would  be  interesting  if 
known,  on  account  of  the  time  in  which  they  lived.  For 
example  of  what  is  meant:  John  Beatty,  aged  83  years, 
died  January  25,  1804,  and  wife,  Arven  Beatty,  aged  74 
years,  died  1797.  Richard  Rankin  and  wife,  Polly,  died 
in  1804  and  1803,  respectively.  John  Dougherty,  died 
1790,  aged  46  years.  Thomas  Blackwood,  died  1793, 
aged  50  years.  These  names  are  now  wholly  unknown 
in  the  community,  however  important  may  have  been  the 
services  rendered  by  those  whose  names  are  preserved 
on  marble  slabs.  It  is  more  difficult  to  preserve  ordinary 
or  local  fame  than  it  is  to  win  it.    What  a  historical  treas- 


BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  77 

ure  we  would  have  if  only  short  sketches  of  the  many 
heads  of  families  that  lie  mouldered  into  dust  had  been 
prepared   when    the   material   was   fresh   and    abundant. 

Av'hile  we  have  reason  to  regret  the  loss  of  so  much  by 
the  carelessness  or  want  of  forethought  on  the  part  of 
our  ancestors,  we  have  also  greater  reason  to  rejoice  that 
so  much  of  inestimable  value  has  been  kept  safely  for  pos- 
terity's use.  The  history  of  every  generation  should  be 
written,  and  not  allow  such  wide  gaps  of  time  to  inter- 
vene, which  prove  broken  links  in  the  historic  chain  con- 
necting widely  separated  epochs  of  our  civilization.  Only 
in  this  way  can  history  be  preserved  in  its  entirety.  In 
this  age  of  schools,  wdiile  progress  is  the  watchword, 
would  it  not  be  wise  for  the  State  to  estabhsh  a  depart- 
ment of  history — for  the  writing  of  history — for  the  ben- 
efit of  those  w^ho  will  live  in  the  future,  as  well  as  to  satisfy 
the  reading  people  of  today. 

We  are  now  living  so  fast,  literally  traveling  by  elec- 
tricitv.  that  we  accomplish  in  ten  years  in  this  present  era 
what  it  took  one  hundred  years  to  accomplish  a  cen- 
tury ago.  It  is  now^  a  necessity  to  record  new 
discoveries,  new  developments  and  rapid  changes  in 
a  better  way  than  in  new^spapers  and  periodicals  if  wc 
would  carry  into  the  future  a  correct  account  of  the  mad- 
dening rush  that  is  driving  us  forw^ard.  If  the  ashes  of  the 
wisest  ones  who  have  been  asleep  for  fifty  years  could 
avi^ake.  see  and  hear  what  changes  had  been  made  since 
their  departure,  they  would  scarcely  give  credence  to  the 
true  stories,  although  told  by  their  own  kith  and  kin.  A11 
discoveries  and  inventions  have  been  by  gradation,  as  it 
were,  preparing  the  mind  to  receive  and  comprehend  the 
wT^ndcrful  phenomena  thrust  with  such  apparent  haste 
upon  the  astonished  vision  of  an  expectant  world;  some- 
what after  the  similitude  of  Darwinian  evolution.  We 
novv  scarcelv  feel  safe  to  doubt,  muchless  deny  any  dream 
Avc  hear,  even  the  most  unlooked-for. 


78  BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

REV.  JOHN  WILLIAMSON. 

He  entered  on  the  pastorate  of  Hopewell  church  Sep- 
tember 14,  1818.  He  was  a  successful  and  popular  min- 
ister; greatly  beloved  by  his  people.  He  built  an  elegant 
brick  dwelling  near  Wilson  Davidson's  and  owned  a  large 
farm,  which  he  cultivated  with  profit.  This  farm  is  now 
owned  by  John  N.  Patterson,  but  the  elegant  residence 
h.is  been  burned.  Mrs.  Williamson  was  a  most  excellent 
woman,  and  as  wife  ©f  the  pastor,  she  was  an  efficient 
Christian  worker;  greatly  beloved  by  all  the  people.  They 
rallied  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr. 
Williamson  died  September  4,  1842,  and  was  buried  in 
Hopewell  graveyard,  amidst  a  large  number  to  whom  he 
ministered  for  twenty-four  years.  Three  years  later  his 
wife  was  laid  to  rest  by  his  side.  The  oldest  daughter, 
Sarah  Ann,  married  Rev.  R.  H.  Caldwell,  and  moved  to 
Mississippi,  where  they  now  reside  in  their  old  age,  happy 
in  the  work  of  the  Master. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

BETHEL  CHURCH. 


This  section  of  country  being  intensely  Presbyterian, 
we  are  not  surprised  that  the  church  of  Bethel  was  built 
so  early  as  the  first  quarter  of  the  present  century.  Up 
to  this  period  Methodism  had  not  taken  root  in  Meek- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  79 

lenburg  county  to  any  extent.  This  church  was  located 
on  the  Beattie's  Ford  and  Concord  road,  five  miles  east 
of  the  river,  five  miles  south  of  Centre  church  in  Iredell 
county,  and  eight  miles  north  of  Hopewell.  It  was  iii 
the  midst  of  a  great  deal  of  wealth,  but  had  a  small  mem- 
bership. It  was  not  regularly  supplied  with  a  pastor  or  a 
minister,  as  the  older  churches  were,  but  had  service  in 
the  earliest  days  for  short  times  by  Revs.  McRee,  Espie 
and  others.  After  1837  some  one  of  the  ministers  from 
the  faculty  of  Davidson  College  served  the  congregation 
until  1856.  Rev.  E.  D.  Junkin  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
who  served  only  a  short  time.  Dr.  Wood,  Dr.  Phillips 
and  several  others  served  short  terms  since  the  war.  The 
church  seems  to  be  in  a  more  prosperous  condition  now 
than  in  any  former  period  of  its  existence.  A  new  brick 
house  has  been  recently  built,  and  the  congregation  is 
very  much  attached  to  their  present  pastor,  Rev.  John 
Grier. 

Amongst  the  main  supporters  in  the  earl)-  days  of  its 
existence  were  A.  B.  Jetton,  Robert  Potts,  William  Pat- 
terson, David  A.  Caldwell  and  Andrew^  Springs.  These 
were  all  elders,  men  of  honor  and  unswerving  integrity. 
Patrick  Johnston  and  his  two  sons,  James  and  Houston 
Johnston,  and  William  G.  Potts,  with  their  families,  were 
amongst  the  early  attendants.  Robert  Henderson  and 
his  family,  John  Knox  and  his  three  sons.  Robert,  John 
and  Andrew,  S.  M.  Withers,  J.  R.  Gillespie,  were  all  prom- 
inent members,  and  some  of  whom  were  elders.  In  late 
years  the  church  was  served  by  Rev.  L.  K.  Glasgow  for 
ten  years,  with  a  bench  of  elders  composed  of  Martin 
Alexander,  W.  H.  Goodman,  L.  A.  Potts,  J.  M.  Wilson, 
Robert  Knox  and  J.  B.  Alexander. 

A  most  excellent  high  school  was  taught  near  tlie 
cliMrch  by  Rev.  L.  K.  Glasgow,  extending  from  1875  to 
1885.  It  was  patronized  by  the  entire  community,  and 
accomplished  a  great  deal  in  an  educational  i)(>in1  of  \  icw. 
He. was  a  successful  teacher.    The  change  in  this  inuncdi- 


80  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

ate  neighborhood  in  the  last  ten  years  has  been  ahiiost 
revolutionary,  by  the  death  of  several  of  the  most  prom- 
inent persons,  such  as  William  Patterson,  Lawson  Potts, 
Banks  Withers,  and  the  moving  away  of  several  other 
families,  leaving  their  lands  to  tenants  who  do  not  take 
much  interest  in  schools,  educational  plants  requiring 
constant  nursing  to  keep  them  vigorous. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

GIIvEAD  CHURCH. 

A  temple  erected  to  the  worship  of  God  a  hundred 
years  ago  deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice.  Like 
everything  else  connected  with  the  latter  years  of  the 
i8th  century,  but  little  is  now  known,  and  that  little  fast 
falling  into  oblivion.  What  a  historical  loss  is  sustained 
b}-  the  present  generation  by  not  having  kept  a  record  of 
the  pioneers  of  that  age  in  church  matters,  as  well  as  State 
craft.  It  would  be  of  great  interest  to  know  who  were 
the  nrime  movers  in  oro;anizine'  the  A.  R.  P.  Church  that 
has  been  the  source  of  so  much  spiritual  good  in  all  that 
section  of  the  county.  The  church  record  is  said  to  have 
been  lost,  and  with  it  all  the  early  history  except  what  we 
have  by  tradition,  and  a  few  facts  preserved  incidentally 
in  connection  with  Prosperity  and  Codle  Creek  churches. 
Gilead  church  occupies  a  site  on  the  Beattie's  Ford  road 
fifteen  miles  northwest  of  Charlotte,  and  five  miles  from 
Hopewell.  During  this  period  of  a  little  over  one  hundred 
years  the  people  of  Hopewell  and  Gilead  were  to  all  in- 
tents and  purposes  one  people,  the  two  churches  one  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  81 

doctrine,  creed  and  church  government;  and  the  only  dif- 
ference the  Associate  Reformed  held  to  was  close  com- 
munion, and  only  the  Psalmody  for  church  music.  Time 
has  wrought  recently  some  changes  in  the  form  of  wor- 
ship, even  in  this  particular  branch  of  the  church.  They 
no  longer  use  "tokens,"  as  was  an  invariable  custom 
twenty-five  years  ago.  They  no  longer  forbid  Christians 
of  other  evangelical  churches  to  commune  with  them  at 
the  Lord's  table.  They  no  longer  require  communicants 
to  be  seated  around  the  table,  but  are  served  in  their  pews 
as  other  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Neither 
are  they  so  bitterly  opposed  to  instrumental  music  in 
their  worship.  But  to  this  day  Gilead  has  not  adopted 
the  use  of  an  organ.  It  was  my  fortune  to  practice  med- 
icine in  almost  every  family  in  Gilead  congregation  for 
thirty  years,  and  I  cheerfully  bear  testimony  they  were 
the  best  people  I  ever  knew,  and  I  knew  them  intimately. 
Gilead  graveyard  is  not  so  rich  in  historic  lore  as  sev- 
eral others  in  Mecklenburg  county.  The  grave  stone  of 
Mrs.  McKnight  bears  the  earliest  date  of  any  tablet  in 
this  enclosure,  viz:  1811.  It  is  more  than  probable  many 
were  buried  here  before  Mrs.  McKnight.  In  looking  over 
this  quiet  cemetery  we  see  the  names  of  a  number  who 
were  natives  of  Ireland  i.  e.  David  Smith.  James  Smith. 
Esther  Smith  and  Eliza  Smith.  John  Alcorn  and  his  two 
sisters,  Mrs.  Sarah  Nantz  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Alexander. 
Patrick  Johnston  and  his  numerous  descendants.  A  cen- 
otaph to  the  memory  of  his  grandson,  Barnabas  Alexan- 
der Johnston,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Spottsylva- 
nia,  May  12,  1864.  Also  the  names  of  John  Blakly,  John 
Bell,  Thomas  Alcorn,  Daniel  McAulay,  Hugh  McA-ulay 
and  others  who  gave  their  lives  for  their  country.  Proli- 
ably  no  Revolutionary  soldier  rests  here,  except  Daniel 
McAulay,  but  many  who  contended  for  the  Confederate 
cause,  which  our  Southrrn  people  will  aUvnx's  hold  dear. 
probably  John  Boycc  was  the  first  pastor,  as  wo  Icrn-ii  lie 
w:.s  ii)    charge    of   Codle  Creek,    Prns])ority,    Gilead  and 


82  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Hopewell  in  South  Carolina.  He  could  not  have  given 
more  than  one-fourth  of  his  time  to  either  one  of  his  sev- 
eral charges.  He  appears  to  have  continued  here  for 
about  five  years.  He  died  March  i8,  1793,  and  was  buried 
at  Hopewell,  in  South  CaroHna.  The  second  pastor  was 
Rev.  James  McKnight.  He  was  installed  pastor  of  Gi- 
lead,  Codle  Creek  and  Prosperity  in  1797.  He  continued 
to  serve  these  churches  for  many  years,  and  ceased  from 
his  labors  September  17,  1831.  He  was  a  most  remark- 
able preacher.  Two  sermons  a  day  was  his  ordinary  rule. 
Beginning  by  10  o'clock  and  giving  a  short  interval  for 
refreshments,  he  would  preach  sometimes  until  it  was  so 
dark  he  would  call  for  candles  to  read  and  sing  the  last 
Psalm.  The  stars  would  be  shining  brightly  before  the 
people  would  reach  home,  if  they  had  but  two  or  three 
miles  to  go.  It  was  common  for  them  to  provide  them- 
selves with  pine  torches  to  light  them  home. 

The  pioneers  in  the  movement  to  organize  Gilead 
church  first  thought  of  building  the  house  of  worship  by 
the  side  of  Baker's  graveyard,  where  quite  a  number  of 
A.  R.  Presbyterians  had  been  buried,  but  believing  the 
site  selected  more  central  it  was  agreed  to  build  where 
the  present  new  and  elegant  brick  church  now  stands. 
The  present  site  was  first  occupied  by  a  block  house,  or 
wooden  fort,  in  which  the  whites  would  congregate  to 
better  defend  themselves  against  hostile  Indians.  The 
neighbors  also  had  an  enclosure  at  the  spring  (near  by) 
for  penning  cattle,  to  protect  them  from  roving  bands  of 
Indians.  Experts  with  the  rifle  could  easily  pick  off  cat- 
tle thieves  from  the  fort  without  exposing  themselves. 
Mrs.  Nellie  Torrance,  who  died  many  years  ago,  related 
the  story  of  the  fort  (which  she  had  often  seen,  as  she 
lived  in  the  neighborhood),  to  Mr.  E.  A.  McAulav,  now  a 
venerable  elder  in  Gilead,  who  kindly  gave  the  above  ac- 
count to  the  writer.  There  are  now  living  but  few  who  can 
contribute  anything  of  a  past  generation. 

The  deed  to  the  church  land  was  made  to  Alexander 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  S3 

Baldridge  (Rev.),  William  Henderson,  David  Smith, 
Hugh  Lucas  and  others.  Lucas  lived  near  Cowan's  Ford 
at  the  time  the  battle  was  fought  there  February  i,  1781. 

The  first  elders  were  William  Henderson,  David  Smith 
and  Hugh  Lucas.  Some  years  later  Patrick  Johnston, 
William  Beard  and  Gilbreth  McKnight.  Still  later  we 
have  the  names  of  James  Blakely,  White  Morrow,  Ewart 
Bell,  John  Bell,  Sr.,  John  Price  Bell,  Jr.  About  this  time 
some  of  the  most  prominent  members  were  Daniel  iMc- 
Aulay,  James  Smith  and  his  sisters,  Esther  and  Eliza, 
Polly  Bell.  Jane  Bell,  Sally  Bell,  James  Goodrum  and 
wife,  Martha,  Harrison  Goodrum,  Eli  Alexander  and  his 
sons,  Ezekiel,  Moses,  Martin  and  Eli.  More  recently 
the  elders  were  Green  Barnett,  Benjamin  Brown,  Jessie 
N.  Whitlow,  Dixon  Ewart,  D.  H.  Fidler,  Alexander 
Gibson  and  Samuel  Black.  All  these  have  passed  away. 
John  Alcorn  and  wife,  "Aunt  Polly,"  were  active  mem- 
bers, but  are  numbered  with  those  who  have  died. 

The  bench  of  elders  now  in  charge,  and  who  have 
passed  the  meridian,  are  Eli  B.  Alexander,  W.  A.  Alexan- 
der, M.  B.  Alexander.  J.  F.  M.  Beard,  E.  A.  McAulay. 
And  amongst  the  most  prominent  members  are  J.  M. 
Alexander,  John  Bell  Alexander,  Richard  Blythe.  H.  C. 
Hubbard,  J.  T.  Cashion.  W.  T.  Cashion,  etc. 

Rev.  John  Boyce  was  the  first  pastor,  installed  1701. 
Rev.  James  Mcknight  installed  1797,  and  died  1831. 
Rev.  John  Hunter,  a  man  of  great  ability,  immensely  pop- 
ular, and  had  a  peculiar  intonation  of  voice  that  always 
held  the  attention  of  his  audience,  was  installed  1844. 
He  remained  about  eight  or  ten  years,  and  was  followed 
bv  Rev.  Robert  Thomas  Taylor,  who  was  succeeded  by 
that  great  and  good  man.  Rev.  .Alexander  Ranson,  D.D.. 
who  held  the  pastorate  for  about  twenty  years,  when  he 
was  called  to  his  reward.  Tn  regular  succession.  Revs. 
V).  G.  Caldwell.  W.  Y.  Love.  William  AT.  TTunter;  the  last 
three  pre  still  living,  and  ATr.  Hunter  in  charge. 


84  EiUGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES, 


CHAPTER  XXVL 

MANNERS,  HABITS  AND  CUSTOMS. 

In  all  this  section  of  country  the  people  were  strongly 
impressed,  not  only  with  the  principle  of  self-reliance, 
bi.it  with  integrity  of  purpose  in  character  building.  They 
were  devoted  to  the  principles  of  the  Presbyterian  faith. 
The  basis  of  this  was  in  family  government.  The  features 
of  the  early  settlers  were  prominent,  well  defined,  and 
bespoke  the  true  character  of  the  men  and  women  of  that 
day.  That  stern  look,  to  some  betokened  hardship,  but 
was  only  a  covering  that  concealed  from  the  world  a  lov- 
ing nature  that  was  all  sunshine  in  the  privacy  of  the 
family.  Family  government  was  strict  in  deed,  obedi- 
ence, absolute  obedience,  was  required  in  every  family, 
and  every  requirement  had  to  be  complied  with.  The 
chMrcn  were  early  taught  the  shorter  catechism,  and  it 
had  to  be  so  thoroughly  memorized  that  each  member  of 
the  family  could  ask  and  answer  every  question  from  be- 
ginning to  end  without  a  book.  In  this  period  of  our 
coimtry's  civilization  the  "rod,"  or  "switch,"  was  an  im- 
portant factor.  The  pendulum  probably  swung  too  far 
in  forcins;  obedience  bv  such  harsh  means  at  that  time, 
but  it  is  equally  certain  it  now  swings  too  far  on  the  other 
side,  as  we  frequently  see  children  governing  their  par- 
ents. This  is  a  sad  mistake  now  being  made,  and  we  can 
expect  only  to  reap  bitter  fruit.  A  people  brought 
up  under  the  influence  of  Calvin  and  Knox  would  have 
disappointed  the  world  if  they  had  not  produced  just 
such  a  posterity  as  those  who  migrated  to  this  Hopewefl 
section  of  Mecklenburg  county. 

The  good  old  plan  of  building  a  high  school  under  the 
shadow  of  all  Presbyterian  churches  in  those  early  days 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  85 

was  not  carried  'into  ertect  in  this  territory,  as  was  done 
at  Centre,  Rocky  River,  Sugar  Creek,  Providence,  etc.  it 
is  impossible  at  this  late  day  to  give  a  correct  reason  why 
this  was  not  done.  The  young  people  must  have  been 
sent  off  to  neighboring  schools,  for  we  have  reason  to 
believe  the  great  majority  were  pretty  well  educated. 
There  were  several  primary  schools,  whose  only  fame  left 
behind  was  the  autocratic  power  of  the  teacher.  In  the 
period  of  which  we  write  the  ordinary  agreement  between 
the  teacher  and  employer  was,  they  were  to  furnish  the 
pupils  and  the  books,  and  he  was  to  do  the  whipping. 
The  punishment  was  not  only  severe,  but  sometimes  bru- 
tal. Teacher  and  hickory  were  inseparable,  putting  in 
knowledge  through  the  flesh  as  w^ell  as  through  the  mind. 
A  teacher  who  could  not  and  did  not  whip  every  one  of 
liis  pupils  was  considered  a  poor  make-shift  for  a  teacher. 
Just  before  the  closing  of  a  school  term  it  was  a  custom- 
ary rule  to  bar  the  teacher  out  until  he  would  promise  to 
treat  to  apples,  candy,  or  give  a  holiday. 

This  was  an  undertaking  in  which  the  pupils  considered 
well  worthy  of  counting  the  cost  before  engaging  in  the 
contest.  They  knew  if  the  teacher  succeeded  in  forcing 
an  entrance  they  would  be  severely  whipped;  and  the 
teacher  also  knew  if  he  failed  to  get  in  the  boys  would 
force  him  to  treat,  even  if  they  had  to  tie  him  and  duck 
him  in  the  branch.  Ordinarily  the  teacher  would  agree 
to  treat  rather  than  be  handled  so  roughly.  There  was 
no  shoddy  education  in  those  days.  Latin  and  Greek 
was  the  basis,  or  foundation  of  education  in  the  olden 
lime.  A  Presbyterian  minister  who  could  not  read  Latin 
and  Greek  fluently  would  hardly  have  been  granted 
license  to  preach,  and  if  licensed,  would  have  been  con- 
sidered a  freak  of  nature.  I  remember  to  have  seen  two 
o\f\  men.  twin  brothers,  in  1852,  who  were  gentlemen  of 
leisure,  who  read  Latin  and  Greek  as  fluently  as  any  one 
now  reads  a  newspaper.  Then  an  education  meant  thor- 
oughness, not  sham  or  vcneorin<7. 


86  BIOGUAPHICAL  yKETCHES. 

it  has  always  been  a  pride  of  the  Pres'byterian  church 
to  have  an  educated  ministry.  And  we  doubt  if  the  min- 
isters of  the  present  are  quite  so  weh  learned  in  the  lan- 
guages of  the  ancients,  from  which  the  English  has  been 
derived,  as  were  the  ministers  of  lOO  years  ago.  The  med- 
ical men  of  that  period  studied  medicine  in  books  written 
in  Latin.  Galen's  works  held  the  highest  rank  as  text 
books.  And  many  old  portraits  of  medical  men  have 
been  painted  holding  a  volume  of  Galen  in  their  hands. 

Dr.  Joseph  McKnitt  Alexander  was  the  first  physician 
we  know  of  who  lived  in  this  territory;  although  Drs. 
Harris  and  McLean  did  some  practice  and  much  surgery 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  The  former  lived  in  Cabarrus 
country,  and  the  latter  in  what  is  now  Cabarrus  county. 
Physicians  were  few  and  far  apart,  consequently  could 
not  visit  their  patients  very  often.  A  story  is  told  of  Dr. 
Harris  having  been  sent  for  frequently  to  see  a  dropsical 
patient,  and  becoming  tired  of  tapping  him  so  often,  he 
roughened  a  goose  quill  by  scraping  it  both  ways,  and  in- 
serted it  like  a  trocar  into  the  old  man's  abdomen  and 
left  it  there  as  a  modern  drainage  tube,  knowing  it  could 
not  slip  in  or  out.  Of  course,  it  quickly  lighted  up  'an 
inflammation  that  soon  carried  the  old  man  ofif.  This  was 
long  before  the  great  discoveries  that  we  are  acquainted 
with  now  had  been  brought  to  light;  before  the  Germ 
theory  was  thought  of,  or  antiseptics  had  a  place  in  the 
materia  medica.  Before  a  clinical  thermometer,  or  hypo- 
dermic syringe  had  been  dreamed  of.  But  notwithstand- 
ing the  want  of  these  new  remedies  and  appliances  of  re- 
cent date,  and  ignorance  of  the  myriads  of  spores,  germs, 
microbes  that  are  now  held  responsible  for  all  the  ills  flesh 
is  heir  to;  these  same  old  doctors  were  as  successful  in 
fighting  off  the  last  enemy  and  restoring  their  patients 
to  health  as  the  most  learned  M.  D.'s  of  this  advanced 
age  of  medical  science.  But  probably  a  hundred  years 
ago  the  people  had  greater  stamina  or  resisting  power 
when  assailed  bv  disease  than  now. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  8? 

Dr.  Isaac  Wilson  did  an  extensive  practice  throughout 
all  this  section  of  the  county  from  1825  to  i860.  He  was 
a  self-educated  physician,  had  the  confidence  of  everyone, 
was  ahvays  pleasant  and  agreeable;  he  was  immensely 
popular.  He  kept  a  pack  of  fox  hounds,  was  fond  of  the 
chase,  and  frequently  joined  in  with  his  neighbors  on  cer- 
tain occasions  w'hen  his  or  their  friends  wished  to  engage 
in  a  spirited  hunt,  when  they  would  have  fifteen  to 
twenty  dogs  in  the  chase.  Only  those  w4io  have  taken 
part  in  a  fox  hunt  can  appreciate  the  excitement  when 
the  pack  is  in  full  cry  and  Reynard  has  lowered  his 
brush,  the  sportsmen  know^  the  end  is  near  and  each  one 
is  anxious  to  be  present  at  the  catch.  The  horses  become 
so  excited  they  will  keep  up  with  the  hounds  w^ithout 
whip  or  spur.  This  old-time  sport  has  disappeared,  prob- 
ably because  the  fox  family  moved  away,  as  no  longer 
.'ippreciated  by  our  advancing  civilization. 

These  w-ere  the  days  of  African  slavery,  when  the  ne- 
groes w^ere  happy  creatures,  owaied  by  Christian  masters, 
their  every  need  w-as  supplied,  wdiether  crops  were  plen- 
tiful and  prices  good,  or  drought  stared  them  in  the  face. 
V/hen  sick  the  best  medical  skill  was  employed  to  attend 
them,  and  the  "white  folks"  gave  every  dose  of  medicine, 
in  fact  watched  after  them  with  the  same  solicitude  they 
gav'^e  their  children.  These  slaves  were  w^ell  housed,  well  fed 
and  well  clothed;  and  a  fact  of  physiological  interest,  not 
one  in  a  thousand  ever  had  consumption.  These  negroes 
v\'ere  guardians  of  their  master's  interests,  were  proud  of 
their  master's  family,  and  most  cordially  hated  "poor 
v./hite  trash."  lUit  times  have  changed,  the  negro  is  free, 
is  no  longer  cared  for,  either  in  health  or  sickness;  he  has 
fallen  an  easy  prey  to  consumption,  has  but  little  atten- 
tion when  .sick,  and  his  mind  has  been  poisoned  by  politi- 
cal demagogues  until  he  believes  the  whites  arc  his  ene- 
Mi(  s,  yet  they  are  the  only  ones  he  can  ajipcal  to  with  any 
hope  of  relief.  Their  best  and  happiest  days  passed  away 
when  their  freedom  was  thrust  upon  them. 


88  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

October  6,  1896. 
D'-.  J.  B.  Alexander, 

Dear  Sir:  Your  favor  of  the  ist  inst.  at  hand;  contents 
noted.  With  pleasure  I  comply  with  your  request.  When 
I  left  home  to  learn  a  trade  I  had  no  thought  of  gene- 
alogy. While  rambling  from  place  to  place  I  was  told 
bv  some  that  I  was  Irish,  others  that  I  was  Scotch.  After 
seventeen  years  I  went  home  on  a  visit,  in  1850.  Uncle 
John  (No.  4),  was  the  only  one  of  the  old  folks  left.  He 
tolrl  me  that  between  1730  and  1740,  four  brothers,  Carr, 
sailed  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and  settled  in  Dela- 
ware. They  came  down  south;  two  of  them  settled  in 
Mecklenburg,  one  went  west,  and  one  went  to  Jamaica, 
W.  I.  In  1847  I  was  in  Jamaica,  and  the  largest  dry  goods 
store  in  Kingston  was  owned  by  R.  C.  Carr.  I  didn't  then 
know  that  he  and  I  belonged  to  the  same  stock. 

One  of  the  four  brothers,  Robert,  was  my  great-grand- 
father, and  is  the  only  one  that  I  can  tell  anything  about. 
It  was  at  his  place,  Mclntyre's  Branch,  that  the  British 
sergeant  was  shot  while  tumbling  forage  out  of  the  barn. 

0.  Robert  Carr  was  born  in  17 10;  died  1789. 
Margaret,  his  wife,  was  born  in  171 7,  June  20th,  died 

1769. 

Jeanet  Carr,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Carr, 
was  born  in  1747;  not  married. 

William  Carr,  son  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Carr.  was 
born  1749;  died  1778. 

1.  Robert  Carr,  son  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Carr, 
was  born  1750;  died  1843. 


0.  My  great-grandfather. 

1.  My  grandfather. 


^  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  89 

JrAm  Carr.  son  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Carr,  was  born 

?.  Margaret  Kerr,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Hannah 
Kerr,  was  born  December  2g,  1770. 

Richard  Kerr,  son  of  Rol^ert  and  Hannah  Kerr,  was 
bor-i  1/^2;  batchelor. 

3.  Hannah  Kerr,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Hannah 
Kerr,  was  born  1776. 

Samuel  Kerr,  son  of  Robert  and  Hannah  Kerr,  was 
born  1778. 

4.  John  Kerr,  son  of  Rol^ert  and  Hannah  Kerr,  was 
born  1782. 

MY  GRANDFATHER'S  FAMILY. 

5.  Robert  Carr  and  Barbara  Brown  were  married  De- 
cember 5,  1775. 

6.  Hugh  Carr,  son  of  Robert  and  Barbara  Carr,  was 
bom  September  27,  1776. 

7.  WilHam  Carr  w^as  born  December  29,  1778. 

8.  Margaret  Carr  w^as  born  February  2,  1781. 


2.  Married  a  Mr.  Martin,  by  whom  she  had  three  sons.  Her  oldest 
son,  William,  was  licensed  a  Methodist  preacher  in  1827,  and  after 
preaching  61  years,  died  in  Columbia,  S.  C,  in  1889,  leaving  two  child- 
ren, Dr.  Henry  Martin,  and  Miss  Isabel  Martin,  who  was  instructor  in 
English  language  and  literature  in  Dr.  Atkinson's  school  there. 

3.  Married  a  Mr.  Martin,  whose  son,  James,  gave  Martindale  its 
name.     The  descendants  are  in  that  section. 

4.  Uncle  John  lived  about  a  mile  from  where  he  was  born.  Had  six 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Thomas  Milton  Kerr  and  other  grandchild- 
ren are  there. 

5.  My  grandparents. 

6.  Uncle  Hugh  had  four  sons  and  five  or  six  daughters.  He  went 
west  in  1826  and  settled  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Mississippi.  His 
children  married  and  scattered.  Just  before  the  war  he  and  one  of 
his  sons  went  to  Arkansas  and   settled  forty  miles  west  of  Camden. 

7.  My  father. 

8.  Married  Abram  Martin,  who  died  in  Mecklenburg.  In  1S34  Aunt 
Margaret,  with  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  went  to  Tennessee^ 
and  later  to  Mississippi. 


UU  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

o.    John  Carr  was  born  September  i,  1783. 

10.  Alary  Carr  was  born  August  4,  1786. 

Jean  Carr  was  born  January  17,  1787;  never  married. 
Barbara  Carr  was  born  April  14,  1791;  never  married. 
Rachel  Carr  was  born  November  3,  1793;  never  mar- 
ried. 

11.  Esther  Carr  was  born  June  23,  1797. 

MY  FATHER. 

William  Carr's  family  was  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. 

Robert  Crockett  Kerr,  the  writer. 

Aiargaret  Kerr,  died  1855. 

James  H.  Kerr,  died-  1855. 

John  A.  Kerr,  died  1833. 

Mary  Isabella,  died  in  New  Orleans  June  6,  1884. 

IViy  great-grandfather  was  buried  in  the  old  graveyard 
at  Sugar  Creek,  and  I  think  he  was  a  member  of  that 
church.    Of  his  children  Nos.  2,  3  and  4  were  Methodists. 

My  grandfather  and  all  his  children,  so  far  as  I  can 
recollect,  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
Hopewell. 

My  parents  were  members  of  Hopewell  church,  and 
during  my  boyhood  I  went  there  with  my  parents.  Dr. 
John  Williamson  was  pastor. 

I  was  glad  to  learn  that  you  were  preparing  a  history 
of  Hopewell.  I  hope  some  persons  may  be  found  who 
v/ill  write  the  history  of  each  of  the  seven  Presbyterian 
churches  of  Mecklenburg  that  were  organized  during  the 
old  colonial  days.     I  believe  that  Centre,  Rocky  River, 


9.  Uncle  John,  with  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  went  to  Tennes- 
see in  1834,  and  settled  near  Jackson. 

10.  Aunt  Mary  and  her  husband,  Allison  Clark,  went   to   Tennessee 
in  1824. 

11.  Aunt  Asther   married   Elihu   McCracken.     Their   children    and 
grandchildren  are  in  Mecklenburg  and  adjoining  counties. 


BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  Ul 

Poplar  Tent,  Hopewell,  Sugar  Creek  and  Steel  Creek 
were  all  organized  as  churches  before  the  Revolution,  in- 
iorniation  may  be  gathered  from  session  records  and  tra- 
ditions lianded  down  from  fathers  to  sons,  and  names  and 
dates  on  the  tombstones  in  the  old  cemeteries;  also  from 
the  family  records  in  the  Bible.  Those  old  Presbyterians 
always  had  the  Bible  at  home,  and  any  record  made  in  it 
could  not  be  disputed. 

Every  year  you  good  Mecklenburgers  have  a  "Fourth- 
of-July"  celebration  on  the  20th  of  May,  being  the  tirst 
Declaration  of  Independence. 

I  believe  that  during  this  century,  now  closing,  Meck- 
lenburg has  given  to  the  Presbyterian  church — fathers, 
sons  and  grandsons — more  ministers  than  any  other 
county  in  the  United  States.  Although  little  of  my  man- 
hood has  been  passed  there,  I  can  recollect  Dr.  Caldwell 
at  Sugar  Creek  seventy  to  seventy-live  years  ago.  I  knew 
two  of  his  sons  who  were  preachers.  Now  seven  of  his 
grandsons  are  preachers.  Although  not  born  in  Meck- 
lenburg, they  are  all  of  good  Mecklenburg  stock.  Dr. 
William  Flinn,  orraduate  of  Davidson,  and  his  son,  is  a 
preacher.  His  brother,  Andrew,  who  married  Harvey 
Wilson's  sister,  had  two  sons  who  are  preachers.  ("Robt. 
Morrison,  a  member  of  Rocky  River  church,  had  eight 
grandsons  who  were  Presbyterian  preachers.  Their  names 
w^cre  S.  H.  Morrison,  L.  R.  Morrison,  R.  M.  Morrison. 
A.  W.  Morrison,  R.  H.  Morrison.  G.  N.  Morrison,  Amzi 
Rradshaw  and  R.  C.  Garrison.  The  last  three  were  living 
in  1881.") — From  my  scrap  book. 

I  have  been  trying  to  brighten  up  my  memory  of  boy- 
hood days.  I  recollect  an  Uncle  Joe  Carr,  a  cousin  (so  I 
was  told),  of  my  grandfather,  who  lived  near  what  is  now 
the  Capp's  mines.  He  had  two  sons  older  than  my  father. 
They  all  went  west  in  the  early  20's.  Tt  is  ])robabl('  tlu'y 
were  descendants  of  one  of  the  four  brothers. 

There  was  also  a  cousin  of  my  grandfather  in  "N'ork 
count'^,  S.  C,  who  had  several  sons.  T  became  ac(|uainted 


92  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

with  two  of  them  in  Wetiimpka,  Ala.,  in  1836,  say  sixty- 
years  ago.  They  probably  were  descendants  of  the 
brother  that  went  west.  York  was  a  long  distance  from 
Mecklenburg  170  or  180  years  ago. 

I  am  just  now  recuperating  after  a  six-week's  tussle 
with  bronchitis,  and  with  83  of  time's  mile  posts  behind 
me,  you  can  appreciate  that  I  have  hard  work  to  keep  a 
steady  hand. 

Remember  me  to  all  my  friends  there.  Hoping  this 
will  be  of  service  to  you. 

Very  respectfully, 

R.  C.  KERR. 


CHAPTER  XXVHI. 

A  MARK  OF  PECULIAR  INTEREST. 

Toadyism  always  tends  to  disgust  the  American  citi- 
zen, as  it  carries  with  it  a  strong  semblance  of  royal  sham 
Still  seen  in  all  the  capitals  of  Continental  Europe  and  the 
British  Empire.  Yet  what  is  ours  we  do  not  intend  shall 
be  appropriated  by  others,  although  it  may  only  be  a 
name.  In  Hopewell  graveyard  there  is  a  stone  that 
attracts  more  than  ordinary  interest  among  the  great 
multitude  who  sleep  in  this  quiet  place.  It  is  one  that 
marks  the  grave  of  Capt.  James  Knox,  who  "died  in  1794, 
aged  42  years."  We  know  absolutely  nothing  of  his  his- 
tory, and  can  only  say  he  was  the  grandfather  of  Presi- 
dent James  Knox  Polk.  So  far  as  the  writer  is  aware,  all 
histories  that  have  spoken  of  the  birth  place  of  President 
Polk  declare  that  he  was  born  in  the  southern  part  of 
Mecklenburg  county,  near  where  the  town  of  Pineville 


BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  93 

now  Stands.  Both  history  and  tradition  says  Samuel 
Polk  married  Jane  Knox,  a  daughter  of  Capt.  James 
Knox,  who  lived  four  miles  northeast  of  Hopewell 
church.  The  Knox  house  has  disappeared,  but  the  foun- 
dation stones  are  still  visable,  and  the  spring  that  sup- 
plied the  Knox  family  with  water  still  runs.  A  most  ex- 
cellent gentleman,  J.  L.  Ramsay,  now  occupies 
tlie  site  that  was  made  historic  more  than  a  century  ago 
by  being  the  birth  place  of  President  James  K.  Polk.  The 
location  is  between  John  W.  Moore's  and  J.  N.  Patter- 
son's, one  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  Huntersville.  At 
this  home  of  James  Knox,  the  father  of  Jane,  who  married 
Samuel  Polk,  was  the  child  born  who  was  afterwards 
President  of  the  United  States.  How  long  Sam  Polk 
lived  here,  or  whether  Mrs.  Polk  only  returned  to  have 
her  mother's  care  during  her  first  trying  ordeal,  we  are 
not  informed.  But  we  are  informed  there  was  a  muster 
ground  here  known  as  "''Polk's  old  field."  This  has  very 
much  the  appearance  that  Sam  Polk  lived  here  for  a  while 
at  least. 

We  are  further  informed,  and  know  from  evi- 
dence that  cannot  be  gain-sayed,  that  Peggy  Alcorn,  an 
Irish  girl  who  came  from  Ireland  with  her  mother  when 
six  years  old,  people  of  good  character,  but  very  poor, 
was,  when  13  years  old,  hired  by  Sam  Polk  to  wait  on  his 
wife  and  nurse  the  baby,  their  first  child,  James  K.  Polk, 
Jr.  This  girl  afterwards  married  Eli  Alexander,  who 
lived  four  miles  southwest  of  Davidson  College,  where 
they  raised  a  family,  of  which  each  member  proved  to  be  a 
good  citizen.  Ezekiel,  T^Tartin,  Moses  and  Eli  were  all 
stauiich  Prcsbvterians,  and  the  two  daughters,  Malissa 
married  John  Bell,  and  Mary  married  E.  A.  McAulay. 
No  people  in  North  Carolina  have  a  better  reputation 
for  honesty,  integrity  and  truthfulness,  and  they  say  it. 
and  have  told  their  cln'ldrcn  that  their  mother  often 
spo'.e  of  the  time  she  waited  on  Mrs.  Polk  and  nursed  tin- 
baby  who  afterwards  became  president.  This  little  change 


94  BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

in  local  historical  events  is  only  intended  to  preserve  the 
truth  of  history.  It  is  sufficient  to  be  born  in  Mecklen- 
burg to  entitle  one  to  all  that  is  good  and  patriotic,  but 
to  be  born  in  the  Hopewell  boundary  adds  eclat  to  the 
fact. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

ASSASSINATION  OF  BEN  WILSON. 

Probably  there  has  never  been  a  more  tragic  founda- 
tion for  thrilling  romance  than  the  one  laid  by  the  epi- 
sode mentioned.  This  tragedy  occurred  in  the  early  part 
of  ihe  present  century,  and  there  is  now  no  person  living 
who  was  personally  cognizant  of  the  facts.  Tradition  has 
had  much  to  say  with  regard  to  the  matter,  and  it  is  still 
talked  of  by  the  people  in  the  section  of  country  where  it 
occurred.  Allen  Curry,  a  brother,  and  Mrs.  Johnston,  a 
sister  of  Nixon  Curry,  lived  to  old  age  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, and  were  people  of  respectability,  and  their  de- 
scendants are  numerous  in  the  county.  They  are  esteemed 
good,  law-abiding  citizens.  The  Curry  family  lived  sixteen 
miles  north  of  Charlotte,  and  about  half  a  mile  west  of 
what  is  now  Caldwell's  station,  on  the  Atlantic,  Tennes- 
see and  Ohio  Railroad.  The  property  was  bought  by  Mr. 
Andrew  Springs,  many  years  ago,  and  every  trace  of  the 
family  residence  is  gone,  but  the  Springs  branch  is  still 
known  as  "Curry  branch." 

Ren  Wilson  was  born  of  an  illustrious  ancestry,  being 
closely  connected  by  a  collateral  branch,  with  Gen.  Sir 
Robert  Wilson,  of  English  nobility.  One  hundred  years 
a<;o  this  was  the  most  aristocratic  family  in  the  county; 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  95 

an  account  of  which  is  given  in  another  chapter.  Ben 
Wilson  was  a  son  of  David  Wilson,  and  was  born  and 
raised  four  miles  northwest  of  Hopewell  church.  The  fam- 
ily was  lavish  in  spending  money,  and  was  not  religiouslv 
scrupidous  as  to  how  the  money  was  obtained.  They 
were  fond  of  horse-racing  and  card-playing,  and  had  they 
lived  in  the  present  day,  they  would  have  been  called 
"sports.''  About  the  year  1820,  Nixon  Curry,  Latta  Mc- 
Connel  and  Ben  Wilson  became  very  intimate,  and  occa- 
sionally were  missed  from  the  neighborhood  for  six  weeks 
at  a  time,  no  one  knowing  where  they  had  gone,  or  the 
business  that  engaged  their  attention.  After  awhile  cer- 
tain farmers  noticed  that  the  disappearance  of  one  or 
more  necrro  slaves  was  coincident  with  the  mvsterious 
visits  of  the  trio,  to  unknowm  parts,  whence  the  negroes 
nev^r  returned. 

There  was  no  positive  proof  that  Wilson  and  Curry 
stole  the  slaves,  but  everyone  beHeved  it.  The  story 
handed  down  is  that  they  would  "toll"  the  negro  ofT  with 
the  promise  that  w'hen  sold,  they  would  divide  profits 
wit'i  the  negro:  have  him  run  aw^ay  from  his  new  master 
and  rejoin  the  traders,  and  sell  again.  This  operation 
would  be  repeated  several  times  in  different  places  while 
the  Southwestern  States  were  settling  up:  then  when 
pu=-hed  too  close  they  would  kill  the  negro  and  deposit 
his  body  in  some  sw-amp  or  river.  This  trade  was  carried 
on  for  a  considerable  time  before  much  suspicion  was  ex- 
cited. Curry  was  a  man  of  fine  physique,  pleasant  man- 
ners, above  the  average  in  acumen,  and  brave  as  the  brav- 
est, in  his  general  traits  of  character,  he  closely  resem- 
bled the  XA'^ilsons.  But  this  game  could  not  be  continued 
always:  and  after  considerable  time,  it  came  to  Curr\''s 
ears  that  Ben  Wilson  would  turn  State's  evidence  against 
Curry,  and  that  he  would  be  free  while  Ciutv  would  be 
hanged.  Being  forewarned  wil1i  this  information,  he 
watched  for  an  opportunity  to  get  his  witness  out  f>f  thr 
wav.     Knowing  all  the  places  Wilson  visited.  nn(l  every 


96  BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

path  he  traveled,  he  had  no  trouble  to  meet  him  in  a 
quiet,  unfrequented  place. 

On  an  afternoon  in  the  month  of  March,  1821,  Ben 
\\'ilson  was  returning  home  from  a  visit  to  a  friend,  near 
where  Davidson  College  now  stands,  and  as  he  passed  by 
John  Knox's  residence,  near  where  the  Curry  family  lived, 
he  called  to  Mr.  Knox  and  said:  "You  had  better  keep 
watch  over  'High  Flyer,'  or  you  may  lose  your  fast  horse." 
Wilson  passed  on  in  a  southwest  course  about  half  a  mile, 
when  the  sound  of  a  rifle  was  heard,  and  soon  after  Wil- 
soi's  body  was  found  dead,  from  a  rifle  shot.  No  one 
was  seen  to  whom  suspicion  would  point,  but  from  cir- 
cumstantial evidence,  everybody  beHeved  Nixon  Curry 
the  guilty  party.  Alijiost  every  man  in  the  entire  com- 
munity was  summoned  to  arrest  Nixon  Curry.  He  kept 
in  hiding  several  days  before  arrested.  It  has  always  been 
a  mystery  why  he  remained  in  the  neighborhood,  when 
he  could  so  easily  have  made  his  escape  by  going  west  at 
that  time. 

Probably  the  true  reason  why  he  did  not  escape  was 
the  difficulty  of  taking  his  wife  with  him,  whom  he  was 
not  Vv'illing  to  leave  behind.  He  had  already  had  serious 
trouble  in  an  encounter  with  the  friends  of  his  wife's 
father,  and  the  country  being  aroused  and  greatly  excited, 
it  would  have  been  impossible  to  have  escaped  with  her. 

Latta  McConnel,  having  had  an  interview  with  Curry, 
after  his  arrest,  a  time  was  fixed  when  Lucy  should  join 
him  ir  the  western  part  of  the  State.  Arrangements  were 
made  by  which  McConnel  was  to  be  informed  twenty- 
four  hours  before  Curry  was  to  make  his  escape  from  jail, 
so  that  Lucy  could  be  well  on  her  way  to  the  headwaters 
of  the  Catawba  before  the  country  would  be  excited  the 
second  time  by  the  startHng  reports  of  Curry  having 
broken  jail.  Notwithstanding  the  close  blood  relation 
between  Ben  Wilson  and  Latta  McConnel,  the  latter 
always  proved  a  true  friend  to  Nixon  Curry. 

He  employed  "Baldy"  Henderson,  of  Salisbury,  to  de- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  97 

leiid  him.  He  was  fortunate  in  employing  Mr.  Hender- 
son as  his  influence  over  a  jur}-  was  not  equalled  by  any 
lawyer  in  the  State.  His  trial  was  moved  to  Morganton, 
and  he  was  promptly  acquitted  for  want  of  evidence.  But 
he  was  immediately  arrested  agJiin.  charged  with  stealing 
negroes,  and  put  in  Statesville  jail.  He  remained  there 
but  a  short  time,  until  he  was  able  to  break  jail,  and  lind- 
ing  a  splendid  horse  tied  in  the  rear  of  the  jail,  he  bid  fare- 
well to  North  Carolina.  The  crime  of  stealins:  a  slave 
was  a  felony,  punishable  with  death;  and  the  Governor 
\\  as  so  fully  pursuaded  of  his  guilt  he  offered  a  reward  of 
$5,000  for  his  apprehension. 

We  now  come  to  a  part  of  his  history,  after  leaving  the 
territory  of  which  we  write,  where  truth  is  stranger  than 
fiction.  It  is  said  Curry  was  a  child  of  impulse  from  in- 
fancy, not  quarrelsome,  but  quick  to  resent  an  insult : 
that  he  was  in  love  with  a  class-mate — Lucy  Gordon. 
N'.nen  they  were  but  children.  Their  dream  flowed 
smoothly,  until  Lucy  w^as  eighteen,  when  her  parents  de- 
sired her  to  marry  another,  but  true  to  her  life-long  lover, 
she  refused  to  obey  her  parents,  and  ran  away  with  Nixon 
Curry.  When  being  pursued,  he  killed  his  rival  and  es- 
caped. It  is  said  that  during  his  entire  life  of  strife  and 
crime,  he  never  spoke  an  unkind  word  to  his  wife.  After 
tarrying  a  short  time  in  the  mountains  about  the  head- 
waters of  the  Catawba,  he  started  for  a  country  more  con- 
genial to  his  mode  of  life.  The  Territory  of  Arkansas 
was  just  beginning  to  be  settled,  and  to  this  point  of  the 
fertile  delta  bordering  on  the  St.  Francis,  now  in  the  State 
of  Arkansas,  an  emigrant  made  his  appearance,  calling 
himself  John  Hill.  He  rapidly  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  settlement.  Although  of  moderate  means, 
he  was  sober,  industrious,  generous  and  of  extended  hos- 
pitalitv.  and  such  continued  to  be  his  character  in  the 
country  which  he  had  adopted  for  a  period  extending  over 
a  dozen  vears. 

During    all    of    this    time    not    a    quarrelsome   word 


08  BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

occiirred  between  liini  and  any  of  his  neighbors,  and 
yet  all  new  it  was  not  for  lack  of  courage  on  the  part  of 
Hill,  for  of  all  the  hunters  that  pierced  the  jungles  of 
cane  in  the  "Great  Swamp"  or  descended  by  torch  light 
into  the  bowels  of  the  Ozark  mountains,  he  had  the  rep- 
utation of  being  the  most  fearless.  He  was  overwhelm- 
ingly elected  again  and  again  to  the  Territorial  Legisla- 
ture, and  distinguished  himself  by  his  powerful  and  im- 
passioned eloquence,  speedily  becoming  a  leader  in  the 
ranks  of  his  party. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which  formed  the 
State  constitution,  and  was  re-elected  the  ensuing  year 
to  represent  his  (Pope)  county  in  the  Senate  of  Arkansas. 
And  now  beoan  his  second  series  of  misfortunes.  Hill's 
most  intimate  neighbors  were  the  Strongs,  four  brothers 
of  considerable  wealth,  a  great  deal  of  ambition,  and  in 
the  phrase  of  the  country,  "famous  fighters."  A  close 
and  cordial  intimacy  grew  up  between  them  and  Hill,  and 
the  latter,  most  unfortunately  and  unguardedly,  made 
George,  the  elder,  a  confident  to  his  previous  history. 

It  so  happened  that  George  Strong  had  a  most  ambi- 
tious desire  for  political  distinction,  and  made  a  request 
of  Hill  that  he  should  resign  his  seat  in  the  Senate  in  his 
favor.  This  he  refused  to  do,  and  the  brothers  conspired 
for  revenge. 

Sending  to  North  Carolina  they  procured  a  copy  of  the 
reward  offered  for  Nixon  Curry,  the  notorious  robber. 
The  four  brothers,  powerful  and  determined  as  they  were, 
dared  not  attempt  his  capture  alone,  but  secured  the  as- 
sistance of  a  dozen  men  and  made  the  attempt  to  capture 
Hill  in  his  own  house.  The  latter  never  forgot  his  daily 
peril.  He  always  carried  an  enormous  double-barrelled 
shot  gun,  two  long  rifle  pistols,  and  a  formidable  knife. 
Arkansas  has  never  been  noted  as  a  peacefully  inclined 
State,  and  in  those  days  its  population  numbered  a 
greater  per  cent,  of  desperadoes  and  lawless  men  than  it 
did  a  few  vears  later.  The  attack  of  the  Strongs  proved  a 


lilOGKAPHlCAL  SKETCHES.  99 

dreadful  one  for  themselves.  Two  of  the  brothers  were 
shot  dead,  while  six  of  the  others  were  badly  wounded, 
some  of  them  mortally,  when  the  rest  of  them  were  glad 
to  withdraw  for  the  time.  The  affair  caused  the  most 
unbounded  excitement  throughout  Arkansas.  The 
thought  that  the  chivalrous  and  highly  popular  John  liill 
could  be  identical  with  the  notorious  robber,  Nixon 
Curry,  was  staggering  to  hundreds.  Many  for  a  time 
rehised  to  believe  it. 

Perhaps  the  state  of  public  feeling  can  best  be  shown 
by  the  two  following  extracts  from  the  Little  Rock  Ga- 
zette: "Among  the  truest  friends  of  the  people  of  all  in, 
the  present  convention,  may  be  named  John  Hill,  of  St. 
Francis.  His  energy,  eloquence  and  courage  fully  entitled 
him  to  the  proud  place  he  holds,  and,  as  we  trust,  will 
long-  retain,  that  of  the  leader  of  the  Arkansas  Democ- 
racy." 

The  second  extract  is  taken  from  the  same  paper  of 
1840: 

"Bloody  AfTray. — A  desperate  rencontre  occurred  last 
w^eek  in  St.  Francis.  Two  distinguished  citizens  were 
killed  and  three  deaths  resulted  from  an  attempt  to  ar- 
rest John  Hill,  a  member  of  the  last  Legislature,  and  for- 
merlv  of  the  State  convention,  who,  it  is  alleged,  is  the 
notorious  robber,  Nixon  Curry,  who  committed  such 
atrocities  fifteen  years  ago  in  the  mountains  of  North 
Carolina." 

A  requisition  was  sent  by  the  Governor  of  North  Caro- 
lina demanding  the  surrender  of  Nixon  Curry.  The  Gov- 
ernor of  Arkansas  published  an  additional  rew^ard  for  the 
arrest  of  John  Hill;  and  thus  between  the  two  it  seemed 
as  if  it  was  about  up  with  the  victim. 

Hill  packed  up  hastily  and  set  out  with  his  wife  and 
children  for  Upper  Arkansas,  where  he  knew  of  the  ex- 
istence of  a  band  of  desperadoes,  that  he  had  reason  to 
believe  would  j)rotect  him.  He  was  pursued  In'  over  a 
hundred  of  the  citizens,  manv  of  them  unarmed,  .'ind  onlv 


100  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

attending  for  the  purpose  of  witnessing  the  sport  and  se- 
curing a  part  of  the  niunihcent  reward  that  was  offered 
for  the  man's  apprehension.  HiU  was  overtaken  at  Con- 
way Court  House  by  these  men.  He  hahed  his  wagon 
and  admonishing  his  wife  and  children  to  keep  their 
pkices,  marched  boklly  forth  with  his  death-deaUng  gun 
to  meet  them. 

The  gahantry  of  the  action,  and  HiU's  incredible  brav- 
ery, operated  in  his  favor.  Many  were  unwilling  to  hunt 
so  intrepid  a  character,  others  were  afraid,  a  panic  was 
created,  and  Hill  pursued  his  way  unmolested. 

Subsequent  attempts  were  made  to  arrest  him,  but  all 
resulted  tragically,  or  ludricrously,  to  those  attempting  it. 
It  was  known  that  Hill  could  never  be  taken  alive,  and 
many  began  to  believe  that  he  could  not  when  dead. 

The  constant  pursuit  and  chasing  of  him  changed  his 
nature.  He  became  morose  and  sour  and  unable  to  fol- 
low any  regular  business.  He  resorted  to  the  gambling 
table  for  the  support  of  his  family.  He  became  a  drinker, 
too,  and  was  speedily  transformed  into  a  bitter  and  quar- 
relsome opponent. 

If  Hill  had  been  famous  among  the  mountains  and 
piedmont  section  of  North  Carolna,  he  now  became 
doubl}  so. 

Excepting,  perhaps,  that  prince  of  duelists,  James 
Bowie,  there  was  never  a  man  who  inspired  more  terror. 
Men  who  had  acquired  a  wide  reputation  for  their  deeds 
of  daring,  turned  pale  when  they  encountered  John  Hill. 
Bullies  who  sought  quarrels  on  the  slightest  pretext,  ac- 
cepted all  manner  of  insults  from  him  without  a  word  of 
remonstrance.  (It  is  said  and  believed,  that  during  all 
tiie  wonderful  vicissitudes  of  Curry's  most  wonder- 
ful and  tragic  life,  he  never  spoke  a  harsh  and  unkind  word 
to  his  wife.  Like  Byron's  Corsair,  he  had  "one  virtue 
linked  with  a  thousand  crimes.") 

One  day  in  September,  1845,  while  seated  at  the  break- 
fast table.  Hill  burst  into  tears. 


BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  lUi 

■'W  hat's  the  matter,  dear?  "  inquired  his  wife. 

"i  iiave  had  a  dreadful  dream:  it  is  a  warninu-.  1  saw 
George  Strong  in  my  sleep,  and  he  kissed  me  with  his 
pale  lips,  that  burned  like  tire,  and  smelled  of  sulphur. 
1  am  sure  1  shall  die  before  sunset.  Together  we  have 
encountered  perils  and  hardships.  You  abandoned  wealth 
and  position  for  my  sake,  and  you  have  never  spoken  an 
i.nkind  word  to  me.  We  have  loved  from  childhood,  and 
that  love  has  never  known  abatement.  It  is  this  that 
tioubles  me — not  regard  for  myself.  It  is  indelibly  im- 
pressed upon  my  mind  that  I  shall  die  a  horrible  death 
before  sundown,  and  the  thought  that  it  will  distress  you, 
also  distresses  me." 

Tiiese  were  the  exact  words  of  Hill  as  testified  by  his 
wife  and  children. 

His  W'ife  told  him.  "Then,  my  dear  husband,  do  not 
go  to  court  today.''  (The  Circuit  Court  of  Pope  county. 
in  which  Hill  resided,  it  should  be  remarked,  was  then  in 
session.") 

"Yes,  my  wife,  I  must  go,"  he  replied.  "When  a  man's 
time  has  come,  he  should  not  seek  to  avoid  death,  but 
meet  it  bravely." 

Then,  turning  to  his  son,  William,  a  bright  boy  of  thir- 
teen, he  told  him  to  go  and  get  the  Bible,  and  ui)on  it  ho 
made  him  swear  to  kill  the  man  who  should  kill  his  father. 

"Here  comes  Moses  Howard,  he  will  protect  you,  pa," 
remarked  Mary  Hill,  the  oldest  daughter,  a  lovely  girl  of 
fifteen,  who  was  to  be  married  the  next  day  to  the  youth 
then  approaching.  Moses  Howard,  w'ho  was  a  fine-look- 
ing powerful  man,  chatted  a  few-  minutes  with  the  family, 
and  then  went  out  in  company  with  I  lill.  who  shaved  and 
dressed  himself  with  particular  neatness,  embraced  his 
wife  with  the  warmest  affection,  and  with  tears  in  his 
eves,  before  leavinef. 

As  soon  as  the  two  reached  town,  Tli11  began  drinking 
deeply,  and  showed  a  more  f|uarrelsome  disposition  ihan 
ever.     He  insulted  evcrybodx-  that  crossed  hi-^  path,  and 


102  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

all  the  entreaties  of  the  young  man  failed  to  pacify  him. 
Finally  he  declared  that  he  would  clear  the  court  house, 
and  dashed  into  the  court  room  with  fury  depicted  in  his 
countenance.  Judge,  lawyers,  jury,  spectators,  all  made  al 
ru::ih  for  the  door.  One  man  who  lagged  behind  was 
siczed  by  Hill  and  beaten  unmercifully. 

^"oung  Howard  caught  hold  of  the  infuriated  man  and 
attempted  to  restrain  him,  when,  glaring  like  a  tiger,  he 
turned  upon  the  youth  and  struck  him  to  the  floor.  Be- 
fore he  could  rise  Hill  sprang  upon  him  and  commenced 
pounding  him. 

''For  God's  sake,  stop,  Hill.  Don't  you  know  me — 
your  friend — Howard?" 

Hill  seemed  to  grow  "more  furious  each  moment,  and 
clutched  a  pistol,  determined  to  take  his  friend's  life. 
Howard  grasped  the  barrel  of  the  pistol  as  Hill  cocked 
it,  and  the  weapon  was  discharged  in  their  hands  without 
doing  any  injury.  Once  more  they  clinched,  and  the  most 
dreadful  struggle  ensued  ever  witnessed  in  the  West.  The 
advantage  shifted  from  one  side  to  the  other  for  the  space 
cf  five  minutes,  till  both  were  bathed  in  streams  of  their 
own  blood.  Even  the  bystanders  looking  on  through  the 
windows  of  the  long  court  house,  were  struck  with  won- 
der and  awe.  At  length,  while  writhing  and  twisting 
like  two  raging  serpents,  the  handle  of  Hill's  huge  bowie 
knife,  unthought  of  previously,  protruded  from  beneath 
his  hunting  shirt.  Both  saw  it  at  the  same  time,  and  both 
cittempted  to  grasp  it.  Howard  succeeded.  Quick  as 
lightning  he  drew  the  knife-l^lade  from  the  scabbard,  and 
sheathed  it  up  to  the  hilt  in  the  bosom  of  his  friend  and 
his  sweetheart's  father. 

"The  dream  is  fulfilled,"  exclaimed  Hill,  with  a  smile 
of  stransre  sweetness  that  remained  on  his  features  even 
after  he  was  a  corpse.  He  then  sank  down  and  expired 
without  a  e^roan.  Howard  orazed  on  him  there  as  he  lav. 
with  that  singular  smile  on  his  face,  and  his  glazed  eyes 


BIOGHAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  103 

open.  And  then  awakening  with  a  start,  as  if  from  some 
horrible  vision  of  the  night,  the  poor,  unhappy  youth  fell 
headlong  on  the  body  of  his  friend,  crying  in  tones  that 
melted  many  hardened  spectators  to  tears,  "Great  God.' 
What  have  I  done?"  He  kissed  the  clammy  lips  of  the 
dead,  tried  to  staunch  the  bloody  wound  with  his  hand- 
kerchief, and  then,  apparently  satisfied  that  all  was  over, 
sprang  upon  his  feet  with  a  scream,  "Farewell,  Mary. 
Your  father  is  gone,  and  I  am  going  with  him,"  and  turn- 
ing the  point  of  the  gory  knift  towards  his  own  breast, 
would  have  plunged  it  into  his  own  heart,  had  he  not 
been  prevented  by  the  by-standers,  who  had  now 
crowded  into  the  room. 

The  same  evening  Moses  Howard  disappeared,  and  was 
heard  of  no  more  for  nearly  two  years,  when  a  trader 
brought  back  w^ord  that  he  had  seen  him  in  San  Antonio, 
Texas. 

When  the  shocking  news  reached  Hill's  family,  the 
beautiful  Mary  burst  into  a  wild  laugh.  Hopelessly  in- 
sane, she  was  taken  to  New  Orleans  and  placed  in  an  asy- 
lum, where  she  spent  the  remainder  of  her  most  wretched 
life. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Hill  enjoined  upon  his  son 
to  avenge  his  death.  Faithfully  did  that  son  obey  the 
command.  When  he  had  reached  his  sixteenth  year,  he 
left  for  Texas.  He  was  gone  for  several  months.  When 
he  returned  he  said  to  his  mother,  in  reply  to  her  inquir- 
ing look:  It's  done,  mother!  Poor  Howard,  I  pitied  him, 
but  I  had  to  do  it!" 

"Poor  Mose."  said  the  mother,  weeping,  "but  it  could 
not  be  helped.  The  son  of  such  a  brave  man  as  Nixon 
Curry  must  never  be  called  a  coward,  and  besides,  it  was 
your  father's  order." 

[For  the  facts  on  which  the  history  of  this  most  re- 
m.'irkablc  man  has  been  w'Httcn,  T  am  imdor  obligations 
to  Mrs.  lohnston,  a  sister  of  Nixon  Currv,  and  to  her  son, 


104  BIOGKAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Isaac  Johnston,  a  venerable  citizen  of  Davidson  College 
also  for  the  use  of  Arkansas  newspapers  printed  at  the 
time  of  the  wildest  excitement  connected  with  the  killing 
of  Curry.  As  for  the  killing-  of  Ben  Wilson,  every  person 
in  the  upper  part  of  Mecklenburg  was  familiar  with  all 
the  details  forty  years  ago.] 


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